GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Kansas Board of Education members are debating whether to reverse a two-year-old policy that places less emphasis on the teaching of evolution in school science classes. In 1999, by a 6-4 margin, the board voted to change the state's science education standards to place more emphasis on creationism, the biblical theory that God created the earth and man in seven days. However, two board members who supported that policy change failed to win re-election last November, and were replaced by candidates who support the teaching of evolution.
The American public favors teaching creationism in schools alongwithevolution (68% favor and 29% oppose), but is opposed to the idea of teaching creationisminsteadof evolution, by a 55% to 40% margin. Further, Gallup polls conducted last year suggest that a quarter of Americans believe teaching creationism should be required of the public schools, while another 56% say creationism should at least be offered to students as a subject of study.
Survey Methods
The results reported in this article are based on two Gallup polls, both with telephone interviews of a randomly selected national sample of about 1,000 adults, 18 years and older. The most recent poll was conducted August 24-26, 1999, while the other Gallup poll was conducted June 25-27, 1999. For results based on sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
Next I'm going to read a variety of proposals concerning religion and public schools. For each one, please tell me whether you would generally favor or oppose it. First, ... Next, ...
Teaching creationism ALONG WITH evolution in public schools
|
Favor |
68% |
|
Oppose |
29 |
|
No opinion |
3 |
Teaching creationism INSTEAD OF evolution in public schools
|
Favor |
40% |
|
Oppose |
55 |
|
No opinion |
5 |
Next, I'm going to read you some areas of instruction the high schools might offer. Please say whether you think each one should be required instruction, could be offered as an elective but should not be required, or should not be taught at all. How about…
The theory of evolution
|
Required |
28% |
|
Offered but not required |
49 |
|
Not offered at all |
21 |
|
No opinion |
2 |
The theory of creationism
|
Required |
25% |
|
Offered but not required |
56 |
|
Not offered at all |
16 |
|
No opinion |
3 |
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on
the origin and development of human beings
|
|
‘99 Aug |
‘97 Nov |
‘93 Jun |
1982 |
|
Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process. |
40 % |
39 |
38 |
38 |
|
Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. God had no part in this process. |
9 % |
10 |
11 |
9 |
|
God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so. |
47 % |
44 |
47 |
44 |
|
No opinion |
4 % |
7 |
7 |
9 |
The Gallup World Poll gives you the power to know - and act on - what the world is thinking.