Christian Home School Science Publisher Responds to Darwin Article

Dylan Lovan, of the Associated Press, recently published a story "To Home-School Texts Dismiss Darwin." The article focuses on Christian home school science textbooks and non Christian homeschoolers. The majority is from a secular homeschooler's stand point and even how non homeschoolers feel about Curriculum they don't even use. Only three sentences were given at the very end from a Christian homeschoolers perspective regarding Christian Curriculum. While the article was harsh the comments after the article were even harsh. Some posters call Christian Homeschoolers "idiots" and equate them with the Taliban.

Lovan writes "'If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they're being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology,' Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth."

Apologia, one of the most popular science curriculum publishers was blasted in the article. It was given a grade of an F by Coyne. Davis Carmen, the President and Owner of Apologia Educational Ministries, issued a response regarding the Lovan article. In the statement, he says he is not surprised that "Jerry Coyne, a professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, thinks our books are "promulgating lies to kids." After all, his title clearly conveys that he believes in evolution." He also admits that Apologia Educational Ministries are not shy about their Christian faith but they are open and welcome a debate regarding evolution.

The Lovan article hints that users of Apologia's curriculum will at a disadvantage when they went to college. Carmen offers evidence to the contrary in his statement with many testimonials of students who have used their products. One student stated "I am in the tenth grade and have used Apologia books for four years. I love them. They cover hard concepts, but Dr. Wile is very clear in the way he explains them. In fact, I've already passed the CLEP test for biology." Another student states "In my very first test in college physics, I got the highest score in the class. My professor said that I must have had an excellent high school physics course. He was right!" There are many more examples that echo these sentiments disproving that an Apologia student would be at a disadvantage when they went to college.