HASTI SUPPORT OF THE

NSTA POSITION

STATEMENT ON THE

TEACHING OF EVOLUTION

HASTI Board of Directors

The Hoosier Association of Science Teachers Incorporated (HASTI), an organization of science teachers in the state of Indiana, endorses the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) position statement on "The Teaching of Evolution." HASTI supports Indiana teachers in their determination to not teach creation as science in science class.

The Indiana Science Proficiency Guide (Indiana Department of Education, 1997) contains sections called "Evolution of Life" as well as information in "The Universe." "The Earth," and "Processes That Shape the Earth" and other references for all grade levels (pp. 15, 39, 60, 62-63, 68, 96, 105-106). The National Science Education Standards (National Research Council, 1996) also contains numerous references to content standards related to evolution.

Students should be taught to understand the difference between science and other explanations about how the physical universe works based on religious beliefs or cultural explanations. In science class, the Theory of Evolution which includes evidence that life evolved, that the earth is billions of years old, and that the Universe is much older is presently the general principle guiding the understanding of biology, earth science, and astronomy. Thus, this explanation of science is supported by the NSTA statement on "The Teaching of Evolution" which HATSI endorses.
 
For a copy of the NSTA position statement, please click here.