I'm serious too : ) I may've appeared to have made too much of what I was saying in my initial statements that drew us into this when I first got on as a newby. I did sub for the regular teacher, but was in a long term position for the collab special ed teacher so before had only been helping a dyslexic kid and tried to help keep order with the ADHD kids but wasn't directly teaching for this particular class - but one period when we happened to be covering Darwin briefly she was out and left me by myself. Normally you aren't in the classes with the kids that long and barely know what they are even going through, (as a sub) but I'd been in this class for several weeks and knew the kids pretty well along with what we were covering. We went through the assigned video, vocabularly, etc. (don't remember all of it) but I actually stood up FOR evolution. These are southern kids. If you want to label them they are generally either in the category of partiers or kids who are pretty religious. Actually most are religious even so, unless from elsewhere. Its the culture here - the Bible belt. I told the kids after we went through the thing on Darwin's story that you could accept evolution as fact and still believe in the creation.... I had this Christian kid just sitting there shaking his head no at me. I found out the next day I was misunderstood and they thought I was saying I believed in evolution (as debated on here). I said - no - I believe in the creation, but there is truth to the science of evolution!!!

We just don't get that deep in these classes anyway unless from discussion. The next day I talked to the teacher and she went through it more with the class which is when she talked abour Darwin getting a bad rap. That was the extent of it. We moved on. In a resource class, though, with some below average kids who need more intensive help for one reason or another, they were confused when that part was covered. This teacher told me she believes in a longer time period for the creation privately. But she didn't even touch on it in class or belabor the point or bring up the creation that I remember. They teach as they are required to because they have to...they are graded by the state and it is state mandated! The kids are tested on some aspects of it at least. I would like to get hold of one of the booklets they're given on that....(to get ready for what they have to know to pass). I'm only saying that it IS still a theory. Evolution, obviously, happens, but we do not know that we sprang from abiogenesis and/or then evolved from lower beings. The evidences in light of what I believe and have faith in - and irregardless of that - just don't hold up to me. Its not enough to convince me. Honestly I see it as a stretch and have heard conflicting evidences over the years. There is obviously truth to evolution....life changes. But I draw the line with how we began. I'm sure even evolutionists on here are more open to certain aspects of that than others, too. Sorry I keep repeating that... but as far as teaching things in school...unless you homeschool or go to private school where things are taught around religion you're going to learn about it. My point is that you can teach good science without taking it that far or belaboring that area or those theories. I'm sure in college these issues are debated with a lot more intensity, but I wouldn't want to be responsible for steering another from their faith over it. I think that both sides really should at least be mentioned or at the very least it should be made clear that it is NOT a SCIENTIFIC LAW. But the materials I've seen used did leave it somewhat open ended..... or just focused on the known facts and touched on Darwin's story and how evolution was discovered with the mention of possibilities....(Lucy, etc.) I know this year they are changing curriculum. I'll be curious to check it out. Honestly I do have to agree with CTD and Ikester that likely the mind warping of the latter days is being pushed partly through this along with tolerance of "alternative" family units in some areas. And I would like to iterate as well, but if we believe in general that we are just animals (and don't believe in God) that would be a justification to live amorally. I'm not labeling or saying you people are like that - or that all are. But you could see how it could be used in that way as far as indoctrinating children. They're already confused enough by the media. I use to like MTV for the music videos but while searching one day saw some "soap" on there with gay folk making out like it was perfectly normal. Even commercials are pretty sexually explicit. I remember being embarrassed for general underwear commercials and now they go way beyond that selling the most generic products in a sexy way. I use to love House - the genius Dr., but then it got all weird at times that way. I could go on. But I feel strongly about the implications on a much larger scale than just "science." Not all evolutionists can keep a balance with that and the spiritual aspect of life.