Evolution: whatʹs wrong with ‘teaching the controversy’

A new slogan in the fight against evolution education in the USA and elsewhere is ‘teach the controversy’. Although there are scientific controversies about the patterns and processes of evolution that are appropriate topics for the science classroom, and there is a continuing social controversy in certain circles about the validity of evolution, it is scientifically inappropriate and pedagogically irresponsible to teach that scientists seriously debate the validity of evolution.