That dirty 'E' word

So I go to Public High School in New South Wales, Australia and until this year I loved to study science. I loved to see all reactions, the photos of what lay beyond the boundaries of the Earth and most of all I loved to marvel over God's great, intricate creation.Now I wasn't a fool and I disagreed with somethings the teacher said and would often be the cause of much eye rolling among my class mates as I would engage the teacher in a debate on just about every day - I won most because of my habit of watching whatever documentary I could get my hands on in my spare time and that a lot of the time it was a teacher not specialized in the field they were teaching (that's a small public high school for you ).However, this year part of the curriculum was to study evolution.

*scoffs* I even hate to type the awful word!

What was I to do? I would be in lots of trouble and fail science if I refused to do the work but to do the work was many million times worse so I decided in a heart beat that I would not do it and not be discrete about it either.

When Miss sent around the sheets on the first day of this subject I refused mine and when Miss asked what I thought I was doing I told her in a voice big enough for the whole class to hear said "I'm Christian, it's against my religion.I don't believe in it and I won't study it." Her eyes went very wide -( it was obvious no one had ever said that to her before)- and the whole class gasped or asked the person next to them if they heard right. Miss, who had seen many generations pass through the school looked absolutely shocked and angry, scary angry but I didn't care at all. "You will have a talk with the principle if you don't do it!" she thundered. "With the utmost respect Miss, I won't study it and there is nothing you or anyone can say or do to make me." That made her angrier and she stomp away to the front of the class ignoring me the rest of the period.

I was shocked by the amount of teasing and laughing and people trying to convince me I was stupid to care at all - even my so-called friends. Everyone seemed angry at me and no one seemed on my side except God. I knew I pleased him by refusing. He gave me strength and nerve to do it so publicly.

Because of my refusal my friend got the nerve to stand up to the teacher as well and not do the work. People actually, till recently (even though it was a quarter of a year ago), have quietly come up to me to asked me about it and confided in me about their faith or lack of wanting to know more.

I want to know if any of you have similar problems or stories.

p.s. I didn't do the work all that term and just studied why all she was saying was incorrect so I could teach people the truth. My mum was very supportive, she's amazing :)

Your sister in Christ <3

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Comment by Kierstyn Jeannette Fritz on October 2, 2012 at 11:08am: wow! If you think you can handle this - which I bet you can- go on reachtheschool.com/net and sighn up to be a Campass Misinary in your school

Comment by Lisi on August 5, 2012 at 3:59pm: This is awesome!!! At first I was thinking, "What's the 'E' word?" but then I started reading, saw public school and understood. I got to a private Christian school, so I don't get those problems. God was even mentioned in my 9th grade health class. I definitely applaud you for standing up to your teacher like that!!!!!!

Comment by Raquel Dumé on August 4, 2012 at 8:37pm: And lol, I Hate the E word too, when we studied it in Science I despised every second, but it's always better to learn more about it, because then you can have debates with Atheists who believe in the theory, and you can change their perspective of life, I tried this with my Atheist friend, but unfortunately I lacked knowledge and that cost me in the debate. He is now stronger in his beliefs than he was a year ago when we started our email debates (which are still going on btw). Anyways, thanks for the inspiration :) Next time the discussion of evolution comes up in class I will make my beliefs clear, although I'm not sure I will do what you did......

<3 Rocki*

Comment by Raquel Dumé on August 4, 2012 at 8:30pm: I AM SOOOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!! You go God girl! I'm not sure I would ever have enough courage to do that, but ever since I've learned evolution is not true, I have wanted to do that :) God bless you, and don't worry about the response everyone else gave you, you will be given many many gifts in heaven for sticking up for your beliefs :)

Comment by Mykayla Turner on August 4, 2012 at 11:00am: Thanks Kathleen! I definitely understand what happened now, and I'm glad you did it with respect. I can also see now that you stood up for your faith in the best way possible.

And about my mom...She more so regrets failing the class than not doing the work. Because she was told not to do any of the work, she failed the class and didn't have enough credits to graduate. This closed many doors for her later on, and she didn't get post-secondary education. I think she just wishes she had done the work and also made a point to say she didn't believe in it. But I can also see what you were saying-it is important that she realizes she was pleasing God.

Thanks for answering my question!! I see what you mean now, and I think it's awesome that you did well in the class and still followed God! :)

Comment by Kathleen Adams on August 4, 2012 at 4:42am: The starting rant wasn't at all directed at you Makayla, I just started somehow and went on from there.......... mmm lol, I tend to do that. :)

I believe there was no better way to do it, that's all. :D

Comment by Kathleen Adams on August 4, 2012 at 4:05am: Thanks Rachel and Hannah, I really appreciate your support. <3

Mykayla, I see your point; it is a very hard job to get anywhere if you don't play by the rules of society so the trick is not to play their little game at all but look to God and to his word. It won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination and you may not end up where you thought you wanted to end up but God has a marvelous plan beyond anything that we can even comprehend. I'm sorry your mum is filled with regret over the matter, this is not God's will though, he wants her to delight in the knowing that she pleased him by rejecting to listen.

It was never my intention to disrespect the teacher in anyway and I told her that over and over again (as politely as possible) but Satan had hold in her life as well as most of my class mates and they rejected God so much they despised me for even mentioning him - it was a real eye-opener.

As I mentioned (probably not as clearly as I could have - sorry for that) I did do my own work on evolution but not in the sadly one-sided and basic way she was describing it to the other students, except for Natara (< my best friend, she's amazing!). I particularly focused on the vestigial organ argument and fossil types and the fossilization processes in relation to the e******** theory {SUCH RUBBISH! I COULD RANT ABOUT THEM ALL DAY} However I didn't do this for marks but so I could dispute the 'facts' the atheists try to force down my throat and God has made me stronger through it.

To answer your initial question, I missed out on some marks but never went against God and got third in my year in the half-yearlies science test (< this test is big deal in my final score for the year). I keep the award I got for this with the work I did while the rest of the class (except for Natara of course) was studying the e****** theory to remind me of that God can do anything and is in control of all the universe. <3 <3 <3

I took no offence and hope I answered your question,

Your sister in Christ. <3

Comment by Rachel Gomes on August 2, 2012 at 7:41pm: you go girl!! im glad you told your teacher that you wouldnt study it, but im even happier that you said it with respect :)

Comment by Mykayla Turner on August 2, 2012 at 2:39pm: Like I said in my last comment, it's great that you made a difference in your school! It was just after reading your post, I felt it could've been done in a different way.

Comment by Mykayla Turner on August 2, 2012 at 2:36pm: So did you get your science credit?? When my mom was in high school and they studied mythology, evolution, etc., her parents told her not to do the work. This caused her to fail the class, and she didn't get enough credits for her diploma. She definitely regrets ignoring the lessons, and wishes she had done the work. I don't mean to put you down, but wouldn't it make more sense to do the work, and then expand on it by handing in extra assignments explaining why you don't believe in evolution? In doing that, you would both be turning the other cheek, and standing up for what you believe. I understand why you wouldn't want to pay attention, but upsetting your teacher didn't seem to solve the problem. I'm sorry if I hurt you by saying this. I just wanted to share my opinion. And by the way, I do think it's awesome that you are so committed to your faith!!!