This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Robert Darwin, the English naturalist who presented compelling evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors. His theory of natural selection was eventually seen as the primary explanation of the process of evolution in the 1930s, and the basis of modern evolutionary theory.In 1859, Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” provided the evidence to gradually convince scientists that evolution occurs. However, conservative evangelicals in the Church of England resisted the theory.By the start of the 20th century, evolution was widely accepted and was beginning to be taught in U.S. public schools. After World War I, popular belief that German aggression resulted from a Darwinian doctrine of “survival of the fittest” inspired William Jennings Bryan to campaign against the teaching of Darwinian ideas of human evolution.*Does the centuries-old debate still continue? This month’s Streetwise question found out how comfortable Falcon residents would be if D 49 schools included evolution in the curriculum. Here’s what they had to say.
| Lisa Funk FalconI think they should teach it. I believe what the Bible says, but I think they (students) should be able to make up their own mind and decide what they want to believe. |  |
 | Kerry Boucher FalconYes, I think it should be taught in the schools because it’s the prequel to where we are today. Where did creatures come from? There’s more than enough proof of how several beings came from. How they evolved. As far as the religious part? Hasn’t religion evolved? |
| Danielle Miller PeytonRead your Bible and it will tell you everything. |  |
 | John Frazey FalconWhy not? I wouldn’t see a problem with it. I learned about it when I was in school. I have no problem with creation being taught either. |
