Life’s Origins: An Inconclusive Lesson Plan

By David J. Hoff

The debate over how, and whether, to teach evolution boils down to the fact that any explanation of how life originated relies on theory, faith, or both.

"No one was present when life first appeared on Earth," says a disclaimer the Oklahoma textbook commission drafted last fall for insertion in science books. "Therefore, any statement about life’s origins should be considered as theory, not fact."

The statement—which was blocked by the state attorney general as being outside the commission’s authority—reflects the difficulty some states have had in teaching a central theory of modern science that many parents and students see as profoundly at odds...