The public debate sparked by a pair of atheist bus ads hasn’t spilled into area schools as administrators manage to walk the educational line between creationism and evolution.

The ads, which read, "There's probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life," stop running locally this week after fuelling debate online and on the editorial pages of newspapers. Two bus drivers even refused to pilot buses carrying the ads.

But the controversy hasn’t moved into the classroom, be it at Catholic, Christian or public schools. Nor has the issue been raised within the Kamloops-Thompson School District for as long as Supt. Terry Sullivan can recall.

Religion hasn’t been taught in public school since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was introduced in the 1980s. Sullivan said that saw the Lord’s Prayer and other religious elements pulled from schools in order to respect all points of view.

“We can’t impose any individual belief in the classroom,” he said.

The Ministry of Education’s core curriculum focuses on the theory of evolution. But Sullivan said all religious beliefs are touched upon during in-class discussions.

“We don’t teach religion, but we talk about Islam, Christianity, and all other various different strains of religion,” he said. “There have been prayer groups in schools, but they have their meetings at noon-hours, for example.”

Sullivan said hasn’t heard one complaint from parents about religion not being taught in school. Any parent with concerns likely moved their child to a private school or opted to home school.

At St. Ann’s Academy, a private Catholic school, creationism and evolution are given equal voice in the curriculum. Principal Shawn Chisholm said students are taught the two ideas can co-exist.

“It’s always been the idea that science is greatly valued and that these new (scientific) discoveries enlighten us to the wonderful creation,” said Chisholm.

Evolution also has a place at the Kamloops Christian School, where principal Gordon Hohensee said the origins of all beliefs are looked at.

But Hohensee said the general consensus at his school is evolution doesn’t hold up.

“Each teacher brings their perspective, but we take the view that God is the creator,” he said.

That said, parents who disapprove of the Bible being discussed in a science class haven’t approached Hohensee during his year at the school.