February 5, 2020

Why teach evolution? So we don't give up our ground zero

Evolution is "our ground zero from which we advance science," writes Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association.

Dating back over a hundred years, the struggle to understand and teach evolution was among the first fights in the modern scientific era. Teaching evolution reinforces the value of objective information, regardless of whether or not it's consistent with fundamentalist beliefs.

Evolution education matters today—it is our ground zero from which we advance science and discovery that impacts us all.

The initial study of evolution helped us better comprehend the Earth's fossil record, the geographic timeline and history of the planet that gave us insight to the past. The fossil record, although complex, provides a clear historical insight into our biological history. It helped us develop a sound foundation for further scientific inquiry through which we made massive strides in combating disease, developing effective medicines, and improving the overall quality of human life.

If we ignore evolution today, we lose ground on the acceptance of the best method humankind has developed to obtain reliable knowledge, and we risk replacing it with outdated ancient texts and unreliable divine revelation. If evolution becomes less widely taught, our capacity to solve our world's problems will be stymied.

Evolution education matters today—it is our ground zero from which we advance science and discovery that impacts us all, from students and researchers, to advocates and policy-makers, to the general public who must live with the resultant policies and medical care.

Roy Speckhardt

Roy Speckhardt is Executive Director of the American Humanist Association where he actively promotes the humanist perspective on progressive political issues. He is a frequent media commentator, having appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, and NPR, among others. He also gives speeches at colleges, conferences, and local humanist groups across the country.