Actually,I think 'Intelligent Design' oughta be taught(see 'Expelled' with Ben Stein & Co.).Actually,I'm bein' coo' givin' it a three.Again see what 'Evolution' fascists..whoops mavens have done to 'the little guy'...'Expelled'..

I'd be even more impressed if the practice of evolution were taught in schools.

Yes because I think it is neccesary. It is an important thing for younger kids, and even older kids to know. It shouldn't be kept, and if it is neccesary to seperate schools by religon, that is fine, then each person can hear what they need to, and not have to worry about whether or not they believe on it or not.

Are the teachers even knowledgeable enough to teach this. I can't help but wonder anymore.

Believe it or not, I actually do not subscribe to the theory of evolution. I used to in high school, but now I am aware that there is so much scientific evidence against it. On that note, I think it should be taught in schools, but that the alternating scientific evidence should also be taught. Because thats how science and education work. Our kids are dumb enough these days without school systems withholding modern findings.

At my school, they just talked about how Charles Darwin got laid all the time.

Um, I thought it WAS taught in Schools. I remember hearing About it anyway.

It most definitely should. It is an important scientific theory, and it would be wrong to keep this from students. For parents who strongly believe that evolution is not real, then they should have a talk with their children about their beliefs.

Sure, why not? But equal right and time should be given to other theories, including Creationism. The school is a place of learning, not indoctrination. The more freedom for learning we provide, the better students will be prepared to make an intelligent decision of what is right and what is wrong, without external imposition.

Of course it should. The theory of evolution is a very sold theory with an incredibly large amount of scientific evidence to back it up.

I won't go into a lot of detail here, (I've already given the detailed version somewhere on this site) but it's time to bring up the general population's misuse of the term "theory." A theory is not a guess, or some random idea that someone came up with off of the top of their head. If I said, there are unicorns living in the Amazon rainforests, that would not be a theory, because there isn't enough thought or evidence to back it up. The theory of evolution, the theory of gravitation, etc. are theories. They've been studied, and there is ample evidence to back them up. Technically, if you insist on going in that direction, they aren't facts, because if someone did enough research with enough good evidence to back their claims that such theories were false, the scientific community would, with time and ample study, renounce them. But for all practical purposes, many theories may as well be considered facts. 

Yes. Evolution should be tought and its flaws should be explained like any other theory's. As for creationism, I think that a brief mention of it should be part of the curriculum, but the word god should not even be mentioned. Instead, it should be stated that life could be created by highly advanced civilizations, this is the semi-scientific side of creationsim. UPDATE: Cakes, there is hardly anything that the entire world agrees on as fact. If fifty percent of America believed that the earth was flat, would you not teach a round earth theory out of "sensitivity" No, this is not a matter insensitivity, this is a matter of scientific truth.

The first reason is because this theory is considered a fact by some people not all. I dont think that people should be forced to learn something that contradicts their religion if this is not considered a fact by the whole world. Some peoples religion contradicts greatly with the theory of evolution and if people are forced to learn this theory it demeans them. 1Fifty one percent of the America believes that god created humans. Thats the majority of America. It is an injustice to be forced to learn something in this country when more than half of the world believes otherwise.

Yes, I believe school children should be taught that a fish grew legs, developed lungs and decided to walk on dry land, and that dinosaurs became birds. Makes sense to me.

Yes. As soon as it's proven to be unequivocally true. Until then, it should be presented as a hypothetically viable but uncertain theory which has gathered many, many loud and condescending stalwart believers, including the teachers' union.

And teach what? Creationism? How are you going to package that to the trove of various religions (and anti-religions) in our public school system? Right now Christian kids can't pray there or even say Merry Christmas...let alone claim a single God invented the Buddist kid sitting across from them in the cafeteria. If you truely believe the Flintstones was a documentary, then school your kids at home.

How could it not be? Whether or not one thinks it is completely accurate or not, the theory does bring together many other disciplines and findings into one coherent theory. Plus, it is consistent with the scientific method, the basis for all modern science.

Science should be taught in public schools. Evolution has a vast body of scientific knowledge to support it. Theories must submit to the scientific method.

If they can't teach every aspect of everyone's belief, than why should they stick to just one? If they can teach evolution, and greek mythology, than why can't they teach creation? It's not conversion, it's simply teaching.

Evolution has one overriding quality above any other currently going: it can be TANGIBLY STUDIED. As such, it should always be looked into (if you're a Hypocrite, it shouldn't shake your faith in the least, and if you're not, it further justifies something you suspected all along). This burning question of our time will peter out after the collapse of the traditional school system occurs and people start thinking (and learning) for themselves.

if i wanted science to be withheld from me, and to learn the religious teachings of the bible i would got to a religious school. I chose not to go to a catholic school for a reason so i would like to be taught real science

Who cares? Science is already a joke in America. . .check out the makeup of graduate science students at America's top universities - the amount of foreign students have been increasing dramatically. . .gotta love the good ol' USA - we'll make sure they'll stop teaching evil-u-shun and make sure that scientific advancements happen overseas. . .this argument is like asking about the arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic. You people don't get it- your kids can't COMPETE with foreign science students and you're still arguing about the bible versus science. Can you hear the foreign science students laughing? I've already have. . .

Students should be taught the FULL truth about evolution -including it is an unproven theory, that the theory not only fails to explain much in the natural world, there is much in the natural world that totally defies the theory of evolution. The Cambrian Explosion, a known event where after eons of nothing but jellyfish and sponges existing, there was the sudden simultaneous appearance of thousands of complex life forms on earth in an extremely short period of time. THAT event according to the evolution, is totally impossible -which indicates a major flaw in that theory. Children should be taught the truth that there is no fossil evidence of any in-between species -where one species over time turns into another one -because that is the very heart of evolution. Darwin's theory says that over time one species can evolve into another one entirely -but the fossil record says something else. Not only is there no fossil evidence of a human missing link between ape and man, there is no fossil evidence for ANY missing link in-between species for ANY species. Have schools been teaching that there is NO fossil evidence to back it up? Only microevolution holds up -physical changes over a long period of time within a species -but there is no supporting evidence AT ALL for macroevolution -one species over a long period of time evolving into another totally different species. Unless your child goes on to advanced sciences on the Master and PhD level, he will never learn that in a public school. MANY scientists KNOW that the theory of evolution fails to explain our natural world on any level but the microevolutionary level. The theory of Intelligent Design was not proposed by some Bible thumper, but by scientists themselves, and many scientists in a variety of different fields -including astronomy, atrophysics, biology, physics, genetics, chemistry and more have come to the conclusion BECAUSE of their studies -and not any religious leanings - that the Theory of Intelligent Design is the only theory that really does explain those sticky questions like irreducibly complex systems that evolution cannot. Irreducibly complex systems are another phenomenon that totally defies what evolution proposes. Yet the natural world is full of such irreducibly complex systems. Your kid being taught THAT in school? Your kid will not be taught in public schools that the percent of scientists who think Intelligent Design is a working theory has only grown over the past 20 years -as MORE was discovered in the sciences. Intelligent Design does NOT say God created it all in 7 days just like the Bible says -so let's not bother to try and understand it any further -it is a theory that suggests that SOME phenomenon in our world cannot exist at all except for intelligent design -but does nothing to limit further study or understanding of that phenomenon -including the possibility that Intelligent Design may be the wrong answer for that particular phenomenon. I think Intelligent Design should be taught as well -along with the fact that some people wish to discount that theory right off the bat because it might agree with certain religious doctrine -as if because it might agree with some religious doctrine somewhere, that is proof it isn't a viable theory! Now THAT is stupid. The existence of DNA -complex decipherable coding that specifices how to build a specific creature defies evolution -yet the idea that this FAR more complex and specific coding than humans are capable of creating came about by chance is actually rather ludicrous -and on the same plane as suggesting that if a hundred monkeys were set loose with a hundred typewriters that it is seriously possible one of them will type out the complete works of Shakespeare. Rejecting OR subscribing to any scientific theory because it might please others who hold certain views regarding religion -pro or con, only places artifical limitations on scientific research and study. That a particular theory might agree OR go against certain religious doctrine has nothing to do with whether it is a viable and working theory. Kids can be taught these theories without any religious connotation being ascribed to any of them. WHO the intelligent designer is is left for a religion class, that Intelligent Design may be behind some aspects of our physical world is a scientific theory that many scientists happen to think holds true -and not just religious whackos out there.

Yes. Science is a valid area of study in public school.Religion should be taught at home.The Garden of Eden is a beautiful parable,but it is NOT a scientific theory.

Evolution is indeed a theory, but I'm amazed that so many people take that to mean its just speculation and it could be wrong. Evolution is a theory in a technical sense, we can't actually go over the history of the planet and watch evolution take place, so epistemologicaly we can't know that evolution works as we think it does. Therefore it will always remain a theory since it cannot be tested. I know nothing about cars, but I have this theory about a correlation between putting gas in the tank and the car working. Now I am without the tools or know-how to actually see this process work, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't believe in it and it doesn't mean it is not the case. Evolution is how we came to be and we can still see it happening around us as germs are developing immunity to antibiotics that we have used for a long time- that is natural selection. Not only should evolution be taught, but it should be taught explicitly as fact; sans any bogus Its only a theory lead-ins made to appease the religious zealots. To those who say that evolution has been proven false I beg you to explain exactly what you are talking about as you clearly have a misconception about this particular topic. Evolution has never been proven wrong and please, oh please, someone message me with evidence to the contary because I would bet good money that whatever ridiculous counter factual argument people can muster up would hold less water then a wiffle ball. I do understand why some might be a bit off about it being taught in schools but...too bad. Schools are places of learning and knowledge, they should teach facts. The world is as the world is and people believe what they believe, but no matter what the state of the latter the state of the former remains the same. There was at one point a Big Bang phenomenon and life did begin on Earth with unicellular organisms. If someones beliefs contradict that it doesn't indicate that science should go on a never ending quest to prove religion right. Science doesn't try to prove anything right it finds out what is. Kids deserve to be taught this because it is the origins of life and it holds deep signifigance to us all. Science is not a religion and kids areb't stupid

i believe in the truth and evolution is it. that's right. your god took good animals and had them evolve into the piece of crap that ARE human beings.

Why not? It's what really happened.

hogwash,i will never believe i came from some fish,ape or amoeba.it's just what it says-it's a theory.we don't teach every theory that comes down the line,why should this be any different.

Of course it should. To do anything else would be nonsense.

Yes, of course. The Theory of Evolution is not related at all to any religion. It is kind of sad how people still consider evolution a theory; it has been proved (just think of the dinosaurs!)

Evolution is a theory and it should be taught in schools. Everyone in the USA has the freedom to have their own opinion about any thing. Why should a respected piece of research not be taught in schools. As far as I can tell any good teacher who is worth any thing would teach it for what it is, a theory, you don't have to believe, you don't have to like it but it should not be censored from students.

The theory of evolution is just a theory and it has been disproven. Why keep teaching it. If it is taught then creation should be taught to.

There are many questionable theories currently being taught in various classes in schools. I don't see why this should be any different, just as long as it is taught as a theory and not a scientific fact.

It should be presented only as a theory. I believe it is false, and can be disproven, but why not let people know about it - it's part of world history, just as conflicting philosophies of government are (Marxism, Nazism, etc.). What I object to is evolution being taught to children as a fact.

i think everyone should be taught this theory. it doesn't make it a fact and besides the choice of belief is decided by the student. people have an open mind

I see from the comments that the usual suspects have been eating retard sandwiches again. Let's see, I think their argument goes something like: Evolution is a theory and not proven and therefore it shouldn't be taught, but the holy world of God in the King James version of the Bible is irrefutable truth and should be taught. There's no friggin' end to some people's stupidity.

Hmmm... as long as it's taught as a theory and the children have the option as to wether or not they believe it. This is not just about Christians, it's about all religions that are practiced by students in the public school system. Many religions believe that the god of their religion was the creater of the world. As a practicing Catholic being taught in a Catholic school we are taught in religion that the creation stories in the bible are teaching stories created to teach that God created good things. These stories are not taught to be the actual way that God created the universe. Darwin's theory of evolution is based on scientific evidence and is the creation story of our time. It does not teach that we were not created by any specific god. It suggests that humans evolved from primates (sp?) because of our similar physical features. As a part of our religion class we were taught that God comes in when there is no longer any physical evidence to prove where the universe began. This does not demean God in any way. Just look at the complexity of even the tiniest atom and how these atoms are aranged to make up the world around us. Look at the way that life forms evolve and adapt to changes in envronment or how billions of tiny carbon atoms make up just the tip of a mountian, and each of those carbon attoms has a nucleous with six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons on its two rings. Things like that don't just happen somewhere along the line something divine happened. The evolution theory does nothing to attack this basic idea that there is a greater power somewhere.

Yes. Public schools are intended to be secular. The whole idea that evolution hasn't been cast in concrete as the true basis for our existence is no reason not to offer the ideas to our kid's. On the other hand there is also no diffinitive proof either that my wife came from the rib of man. We're not smart enough either way to know which is correct. We should know however, that the supreme being in whatever form we percieve him/her or it knows the truth and we need to use our intellect to try and figure it out. Maybe we should accept evolution as part of creationism.

It should only be taught in schools as long as it explicitly stated that it is only THEORIES and cannot be proven as facts...which I think is how it is now...

Yes, of course. That Darwin is even controversial in the U.S. shows how backwards our educational system is, and how appallingly ignorant are large segments of our population. The best weapon against ignorance is education. Teach evolution: it is the theory that best fits the facts.

Yes it should. Evolution is the best scientific theory to date that explains the data and is best at predicting results. When a better theory comes along, then evolution will be replaced with the better theory. But for now the school system should teach what the scientific community accepts as the best theory. And for those christians who don't know, the Pope finds no conflict of faith between christianity, the Bible, and evolution. Do a web search for the Popes address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on October 23, 1996 if you doubt me. Also available here http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/message.htm If the pope doesn't have a problem with it I don't see why some christians do. ADDED: Since I see alot of misunderstanding about definitions. Theory: In common usage = guess: In science = a body of interconnected statements, general laws, principles, and causes of something known or observed. Fact: In common usage = anything that is true 100%of the time: In science = anything confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional consent(Courtesy of Stephen Jay Gould). Or in simpler terms about 95% or better certainty, because nothing in science can be proven 100%.

Yes, it is one of the most important single ideas of the 19th century. It is a robust theory which has withstood criticism from all sides for over a century. It is easily demonstrated to be a viable theory, with provable hypotheses and the ability to predict future trends, which is why it is accepted by the scientific community. One thing the ignorant masses have yet to get their feeble brains around is that there is absolutely no debate in the scientific community about Evolution vs. Creationism. Evolution is accepted and Creationism is scoffed at as being beneath contempt. There is nothing scientific about Creationism or 'Intelligent Design' (Creationism masquerading as some kind of rigorous discipline) and both 'theories' are completely absurd. Tennessee was the laughingstock of the nation when it outlawed Evolution in public schools. And calling Evolution a mere 'theory' is not as insulting as these mouth-breathers would like to think. An idea cannot be called a theory until it has withstood every possible attack that has been thrown its way. It has to be sound and have predictive powers, and serve as a completely consistent model of how something works. If Evolution is not taught in schools, what will take its place? Pervasive nationwide ignorance probably.

Yes, because it will be good for children who are not religious and who do not believe in god. banning the teaching of evolution will violate seperation of church and state.

Yes, of course we should. If we limited ourselves to teaching only hard facts and no theories we would have little to teach. Think about it... physics, mathematics, history, comparitive lingusitics etc. etc. The list is endless. All abound with theory. You have to start with a theory to get to the ultimate facts of anything.

Evolution CAN be seen, if you choose to look. Have you heard of the divergence of Apple maggots into two species? The anti-biotic resistences gained by bacteria? The Galopgos finches, whose beaks are specially suited for each of the islands special food sources? Even cancer is a type of evolution. Cancer cells come from our cells, but because of random mutations, they gain ablities that a normal cell simply does not have. If you can watch charcter displacment, small changes in body structure, happen, Why is it so difficult to believe that after a long enough time,and enough small variations, we would no longer recongnize them as the same species?? In addition, why should a human hand, a birds wing, and a whales flipper all share the same basic bone structure, wouldn't an all knowing god have been able to come up with something better suited to each of these unique environments?? This is only one example, comparitive anatomy is filled with many more. Science is different from religion because with science you can PREDICT future events, while religion stresses that you can only REACT to the whims of a sentient being. Creationlism has no power as a scientific theory because it can predict nothing. Therefore it should be taught as a religious belief and evolution as a scientific theory.

NO, it's bad enough our American history is falsely taught, we don't need our biology classes polluted with fallacies too.

Provided it is taught as a THEORY, it's fine. Different ideas being debated is a good thing for young people to engage in. Evolution, however, is not fact; it IS a theory like any other.

Of course!

Yes, I thought we took care of this a long time ago! Of course, we cannot teach evolution as historical fact. The only way science is verifiable is if you were actually there to make the observation. Obviously, humans only started to keep written records about 6-7 thousand years ago, so evolution really isn't verifiable. Teach it like you would teach any other scientific theory. There are some very large gaps in evolutionary theory, but it should be presented as one of the possible ways that we got here today.

I think people should know about it and make up their own minds.

Absolutely. Of course, theory of evolution is pretty vague. If you're referring to evolution, this has already been proven by fossils. Species evolve...if they didn't, all species would be exactly the same as when they first magically appeared. The only question is how they evolve and Darwin's Theory of Evolution is only one of many theories, and should be taught in schools. Creationism, on the other hand, should be taught in religion class and not in science class, as it goes against scientific principles by ignoring evidence like fossils and carbon dating.