🚀 go-pugleaf

First of all I would like to thank all those who reponded to my scientists

needed inquiry.  I was able to add a few to my list and also got some

great ideas for sources.  Keep them coming.



New day, new question.  This one is more Philosophical -- in a teaching sense.
I teach Physics and Biology in a Dallas (rural) suburb.  And in my Bio
class we are beginning a unit on Explorations.  I am trying to use
explorations into the origins of the Universe/earth/life in this unit.
Mostly I will concentrate of Evolution, but I think to have a real
understanding of the whole thing you should really start with the Universe
-- since in the past when discussing evolution I always seem to get
questions about where did the earth etc. come from.  The crux of the
problem is this- When I start talking about the Big bang etc, I get a
large quanity of flak/discussion about how this can be if God created the
earth in 7 days.  I do not want to argue theology with my 9th graders

(honors) but I do want them to understand that what I am presenting is not

my belief -- but is Theory based on accumulated evidence.  I have

discussed the formation of theory and what a good theory is/means.

However I still feel like for many I am being rejected as the words leave

my mouth -- many are very argumenative and vocal about their beliefs.  I

have made an effort to try to explain that Christian beleifs and Cosmology

can exist together, but not being very religous I feel like I am not

seeing how this can be myself.  I guess I am looking for two things.
Being a not religous person in a very Christian town how can I explain to
14 -15 year olds that I am not stepping on their faith (they do not know I
am not religeous).  And am I out of line bringing such subject matter into
my classroom ie are the kids to young to handle it?  I am really worried
since I haven't even hit the origin of life stuff yet.  If all matter and
energy in one spot disturbs them this much what are they gonna do when I
show them evidence for human evolution?!!!
I would appreciate discussion more than sources.  I would like to see a
few written sources on the subject but I do not have the time right now to

read 3 books and 12 articles!



Thanks again to one and all,

Doug Benning

benning@tenet.edu

Rockwall HS

Rockwall Tx