I think that there is a confusion between how biology is taught *now*, with the complete inseparability of evolution, based at least in part on the desire of the "educated" to rub the noses of the religious in it, and how biology *must* be taught. The thing is here, we're not talking about your medical degree, we're talking about 9th grade biology, a course that exists as a very basic intro course to the concepts underlying biology. Yes, one of those concepts is evolution, and if they are to study biology over geological epochs evolution would be unaviodable. But there isn't a compelling reason to do that in a mandatory course. The course could just as well spend it's time introducing the other concepts such as what osmotic pressures *are*, how bone structures differ between humans and avians, the various systems common to all animals and their functions, etcetera.

Alternatively, making it an elective course would solve the issue.

I should note here that A) I am an athiest, B) I really enjoy evolutionary biology. I am not defending *my* beliefs here, I am defending the right of others to their beliefs.


Here's my main issue, I don't want the school system to be a "re-education camp". I don't want the primary responsibility of raising children transferred to the state. This particular issue, evolution, is a lightning-rod on parents rights, the *right* of parents to teach their children as they see fit, and that is more important than whether 9-th graders get a good complete understanding of biology. Much more. What exactly is *lost* in making the class elective? As compared to the loss that is guaranteed in having parents lose control of the teaching of beliefs to their children?

The ends do not justify the means.