The Idea that we should confuse the children of this country with anything but the truth is ridiculous. Evolution is proven, it is the answer to the question why are we here, or at least how did we get here. That is not to say all of the questions have been answered, but give the top scientist of the world the credit they are due, they are smarter than you, and this is the best answer they have come up with. If you want your children to know what you believe in, teach it to them at home. The idea of the government teaching your unsupported theory is as ridiculous as saying 2+2=5. It might be what you believe, but the question is 2+2. The answer is 4. If you want your theory taught in science class, some one is going to have to come up with a little more evidence than a highly edited text written by cave men. Intelligent arguments welcome.

"Until something can be proven with no doubt, the only fair thing is to provide both arguments and let the student form their own opinion."

This statement represents a misunderstanding of science. You don't "prove" in science. You support. If the support for a concept (like evolution) has a lot of support then you teach it as a working fact. Is science how we are teaching it today an absolute truth? No. It never will be. It's a work in progress.

Further, science is more than just learning a collection of facts. It's a way of thinking, of looking at evidence. Creationism does not fit this. The ideas in creationism don't change because of evidence.

It's not just a matter of burden of proof. Though that is part of it. It's a matter of two very different and incompatible ways of looking at the world.

I see nothing wrong with teaching the Bible as literature . . . but, from the standpoint of education, teaching Judeo-Christian creationism as science is absolutely no different than teaching Hellenistic creationism (the Titans, Zeus, etc.) as science. The Odyssey and the Iliad are literature. So is the Bible. Keep the Bible in literature class.

I've always gotten a hearty chuckle out of the asinine slogan "teach the controversy." The referenced controversy doesn't exist among learned scienists--they might quibble over details in a healthy way, but no peer-reviewed scientist will write a paper in support of creationism. No; the "controversy" is between scientists and religious pedants. That's the controversy.

So let them learn the facts in school, the bullshit in church, and then decide for themselves which seems right to them. But we can't let our schools go any further down the crapper than they already are. Teach the facts. Not creationism.