Is the theory of evolution too risky to teach to children or is it an instrumental part of science education? The article “Why Evolution Should Be Taught in Public Schools” by Laura H. Kahn addresses this debate. Its title is simple and gives us a direct idea of what the article will focus on, attracting readers with its simplicity. He brings a new perspective to the tired discussion between evolutionism and creationism, proposing new ideas about how keeping students in the dark about the science of evolution could potentially influence disease prevention studies in the future. She targets the one-sided religious society that is in favor of ending the teaching of evolution in the hope that they can see this discussion from a new point of view, instead of strictly following what they have been taught in the Bible. Her target audience of creationists might consider her arguments because the future health of society is what she says is at risk, and that affects everyone, not just people who favor evolution. Kahn argues that educating America's future about the theory of evolution will give them the tools they need to develop new science and propose cures for viruses and other deadly microbes. Without a basic understanding of evolutionary theory, he says, the next generation of scientists and doctors won't fully understand how these microbes can grow and change, which is critical to performing experiments with them. Kahn states that adequate science education involves teaching evolutionary theories. His evidence, including many examples of things that have happened in the past, supports his view in favor of teaching evolution in public schools. These examples… in the middle of the article… above are not effective in supporting his main point, because they are an unwise assumption. Kahn sheds light on the fact that neglecting to teach future generations key scientific theories, such as the theory of evolution, can have disastrous consequences on the future of society. Learning how organisms grow and change is critical to creating new technologies in the study of disease prevention and treatment. Through persuasive examples, Kahn argues his point effectively and adds a new argument that is not typical in the debate between creationism and evolution. His ideas are supported by hard evidence and support the main idea of the article, making what he says worthy of contemplation. Works Cited Kahn, Laura. ""Why evolution should be taught in public schools."" http://thebulletin.org/. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. November 12, 2007. Web. February 26 2014.
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