At Capstone, we believe that strong partnerships with parents are essential—especially when it comes to how we approach complex or controversial subjects in the classroom. Many parents enroll here because they want a school that they can trust to mirror their values regarding these topics. For the next three episodes, we will walk you through both our general approach to controversial topics and several specific examples of how this is done with specific subjects. In this episode, we discuss how we handle the subject of the origin of life and the role of evolution in our curriculum.
At Capstone, a controversial subject is defined as a topic that families and churches often consider divisive, one that is not addressed in our statement of faith or community covenant, and one on which the school has or in some cases has not taken an exhaustive official position. These topics may arise intentionally in the curriculum—or unexpectedly through student questions. Because of this, we take a thoughtful and structured approach to ensure these discussions are handled with care in a manner that honors you, the parents, and your primary role as your child’s educator.
First, it’s important to understand that not every controversial topic is discussed in the classroom. If a topic arises and a teacher determines that discussing it will not help achieve the goals of the course, then class time is not spent on that subject. Additionally, in the Lower School, contemporary controversial issues are not discussed at all without approval from the Headmaster and communication with parents. This helps ensure that conversations are always age-appropriate and aligned with the purpose of the class.
When a controversial subject is relevant to the curriculum, teachers follow a clear set of guidelines. They begin by reminding students of their responsibility to engage in discussion with charity, humility, and respect. Students are also encouraged to honor the teaching they have received from their parents and to continue those conversations at home and within their church communities. Teachers may guide students toward informed sources representing multiple perspectives. This might include reading different authors, completing research assignments, or engaging with guest speakers.
The goal is for students to become familiar with the most widely held views on a topic—not in a shallow way, but with genuine understanding. At the same time, teachers are careful to stay focused. They avoid tangents or unplanned discussions that could lead to confusion or poor handling of complex issues. Additionally, teachers at Capstone are not just instructors—they are role models. They are called to demonstrate what it looks like to think carefully, speak graciously, and engage faithfully according to biblical precept and the historical position of the Church.
Teachers do not enter into adversarial debates with students in the classroom. Even when they hold strong personal convictions, they guide discussion in a way that encourages a scholarly, respectful tone. They are also expected to present views opposed to their own accurately and fairly—often drawing from primary sources and the most well-framed arguments for those views. All of this is done with humility and in submission to Christ.
We also want to emphasize that parents play the primary role in these conversations. We encourage you to reach out—to teachers, deans, or school leadership—if you have questions about how a topic is being addressed. Our desire is not simply to inform, but to partner with you. Together, we aim to model for our students what it looks like to engage difficult topics with grace, civility, and mutual respect—not to win arguments, but to pursue understanding and truth. With that broader framework in mind, let’s turn to an example of a controversial subject: the origin of life and the role of evolution in our curriculum.
Capstone Classical Academy affirms clearly and without hesitation that God is the creator of all things, as expressed in the Nicene Creed and revealed in Scripture. At the same time, the school does not take an official position on the duration of creation or the age of the earth. We teach students to approach Scripture with care—recognizing its different genres and studying it in context, with humility and reverence. We also affirm that human beings are uniquely created in the image of God, with intellectual, moral, relational, and creative capacities that set them apart from all other living things. This gives human life both dignity and responsibility.
In our science curriculum, particularly in biology, students are taught the theory of evolution as it appears in standard high school and college-level textbooks. This includes concepts like adaptation, natural selection, and genetic variation—many of which are observable and widely accepted within the scientific community. We believe it is important for students to understand these ideas so that they are prepared for higher education and able to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
At the same time, we make important distinctions.Capstone does not teach that humanity is merely the result of random mutations and natural selection—that is, that we are a purely accidental species. We teach that God created mankind with great intentionality. However, we do acknowledge that processes like mutation and natural selection are real, observable, and play a role in biological change and variation. When it comes to the origin of life itself—the most debated aspect of evolutionary theory—this topic is addressed more briefly and with careful critique. It is not treated as the central focus of biological studies, but rather as one part of a larger conversation that includes philosophical and theological considerations.
We also help students understand an important boundary: science is a powerful tool, but it is limited to the study of the physical world. Questions about ultimate meaning, purpose, and the nature of human identity go beyond what science alone can answer.
By recognizing these distinctions, students are better equipped to think clearly about what different disciplines can—and cannot—explain. We understand that topics like evolution and origins matter deeply to families. Our commitment is to approach them with clarity, care, integrity, and fully integrated with the historic Christian faith informed by Scripture—never dismissing important questions, and never presenting ideas in a careless or one-sided way. Your students are being guided not only to understand complex material, but to engage it wisely, faithfully, and thoughtfully.
In the next episode, we will discuss Capstone’s approach to teaching theology in an ecumenical, interdenominational context that is both committed to the authority of Scripture and the Church and to the unity of believers and our approach to teaching human sexuality in our science and theology courses.
It is our privilege and responsibility to partner faithfully with you, honoring your authority as the stewards of your children on behalf of God. We invite you to further conversation as you have thoughts or questions so that we can better serve you as you faithfully raise your children for the glory of God and for their ultimate joy.
Until next time, keep on pursuing the Good, the True, and the Beautiful to the glory of God and the blessing of your neighbor.