In addition to facts, theories and formulas, science involves an evidence-based process of exploring and understanding our world. It is incumbent upon science educators to ensure that our teaching is true to the nature of science. Despite a long history of debate concerning the evolution issue, legal battles, and court decisions supporting the teaching of scientific evolution, there remains strong social pressure to replace instruction in scientific evolution with nonscientific beliefs. As a result, many educators themselves have not received an adequate scientific evolution education. They lack a sufficient knowledge base, appropriate teaching skills and very importantly, peer, administrative and community support for the teaching of scientific evolution.
Many teachers are hesitant or afraid to teach scientific evolution.
In fact, many students will never even be exposed to the topic of evolution. These students will be the teachers of tomorrow. Hence, this problem is passed on from one generation to another. Without a significant change in the way schools and teachers deal with the issue of scientific evolution, there may be little chance that this situation will be resolved. Additionally, both State and national organizations have developed materials, programs, workshops, conference sessions and speakers in an effort to promote the nature of science and scientific evolution.