Theory of Evolution in Dutch Education. History of the theory of evolution in Dutch public education, policy, debates and high school examinations from 1867 until recent.

Abstract

This is a broad study on the topic of evolution in education. The main focus is on Dutch education but a comparison to the United Stats is made. It can be concluded that religion plays the biggest role in the discussion in the US as well as in the Netherlands. The nature of the debate is very different however due to large differences in national laws and legislation.

For this study old Dutch schoolbooks have been examined as a primary resource. Schoolbooks for the subjects; biology, natural history, zoology, anthropology and geography by authors of different or no apparent religious backgrounds were used. The books have been examined on their content of the following topics; human evolution, paleontology, micro-macro evolution and religious signature. In the Netherlands the process of 'pillarization' (verzuiling) has played an important role. Foreign influences came mainly from Germany and later also from the United States in the form of Creation Science and Intelligent Design.

Not only the history of the topic is discussed but also the current situation of the place of evolution in the Dutch (biology) curriculum. Unknown to the Dutch general public is that evolution is an issue still, even today. This is may be about to change with the implementation of the latest biology exam program.