Originally posted by graphicgr8s If you look around you see that things actually devolve into the lowest form that can adapt and survive according to its surroundings. Adaption to environment isn't evolution. To think a human with reasoning abilities (well in some cases anyway) can come from an ameoba is insane.
Eh, sometimes it certainly looks that way.
Anyway, this is not the place for a remedial course on the scientific evidence for evolution. Let's just stipulate the undeniable fact that there is no significant opposition to it in the scientific community, and agree that on any given scientific subject, the scientific consensus (with the understanding of its tentative and provisional nature) is what kids should be properly taught in science classes.
As for the of/from first amendment thing, personal attitudes are not the point at all. The government cannot endorse any religion (or absence thereof, as in the Corbett case), because of its (the government's) inherent coercive power. It really does not matter if Christian children can theoretically just stand by while their Satanist teacher performs a devil-worshiping ritual in the classroom, or if the yell of "Allah is the greatest" comes from the school loudspeaker 5 times a day. Just like one cannot be asked to stand by when racist or other socially discriminatory comments are made by a government official, even though the same statements would be protected as free speech in other circumstances.