ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Keeping Church and State Separate

The brouhaha in Mission Viejo over a Capistrano Valley High School biology teacher who was reprimanded for bringing his views on creationism to the classroom has that community divided. But the issue is simple: If teacher John Peloza wants to present creationism as scientific fact, he should teach in a denominational school.

The state Board of Education, after much heated debate, has established guidelines requiring that evolution be taught as the scientific explanation of the origin of man. Similar guidelines also have been adopted by Capistrano Unified School District.

Creation science--which, by the way, encompasses many twists on the general biblical assertion that the world was created in six days--is not a scientific explanation. One believes in creationism on faith, while evolutionary theory has been developed over time as scientists examine physical evidence and the scientific record. The biblical interpretation of creation cannot be considered a scientific explanation in the same way that evolution can, and does not belong in the public schools.

Peloza, backed by fundamentalist Christian groups who want creationism taught on a par with evolution, has decided to fight his reprimand, which is one step away from suspension. He denies that he told a student, “If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you are going to hell,” or that he presents creationism as a preferable scientific theory to evolution. But he calls evolution “the religion of atheism,” insists that evidence supporting it is “circumstantial” and says he is “resisting pressure to teach evolutionism.” He also acknowledges that he gave Bibles to two students after class as part of a discussion of religious matters.

One of Peloza’s students, quoted anonymously in the campus newspaper, said she feared that her grade would be lowered because she didn’t share Peloza’s views. That concern makes it obvious why a particular religious theory of human history doesn’t belong in a public school. Students come from many religious backgrounds with different interpretations of how life came to be.

The parents who have taken up Peloza’s cause have many other ways to pass along their beliefs about creationism, including after-school and weekend religious education or private schools. But state and local guidelines are clear and correct in keeping the focus in the public schools on evolution.