Gov. Christie: Decision To Teach Creationism Is Up To Local School Districts
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he believes the decision on whether to teach creationism in addition to evolution is a choice best left to local school districts.
"If there are certain school districts who want to also teach creationism or intelligent decision that's got to be their call to make on the local level not something that we should be deciding in Trenton," Christie said at a news conference Thursday.
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The Republican governor, however, refused to say whether he believes in creationism.
"That's not of your business, that's my personal view -- none of your business," Christie told a reporter after being asked to clarify his apparent advocating of creationism at a town hall event in Manalapan last week.
Evolution is taught in New Jersey public schools under the state's core curriculum standards. Creationism isn't, but both theories are allowed to be discussed.
"Locality should make those decisions on things that they want to add to curiculum that's outside of the established core curriculum," Christie said.
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