We also need to become better acquainted with theological faculties and Christian publishers so that theologians contemplating writing books or articles that contain matter of geological interest will consult with us before going into print. A growing number of Christian students are being educated in Christian schools or at home. I sense that earth science education in Christian and home schools is generally poor because of exposure to the available curriculum materials from a young-earth, flood geology perspective and because of the inadequacy of teacher training in earth science. More than one Christian geologist has expressed concern to me because of the dominance of young-earth creationism in curriculum materials and in workshop presentations at home school conventions. In many Christian schools, geology is almost entirely avoided because of its potentially controversial nature.
School boards don t want to arouse the ire of parents.
The children lose out because they don t learn about the wonders of God s planet. We need to do some serious thinking about how to encourage change. The ACG needs to gain access to Christian and home school curriculum writers and publishers, examine their curriculum materials, and help them develop new materials that are based on sound geological observation and theory. And maybe some of us ought to get involved in writing earth science material that can be used in Christian schools. Many Christian students enter college with peculiar attitudes about geology.