5th January 2008, 5:37 PM
N-Man Wrote:Listen, I completely agree that children ought to be taught evolution rather than whatever crackpot creationist story, but it's a defensible point of view. A child's education does depend on the parents, and if the state contradicts their views, that can be seen as infringing on civil liberties. Now, public education is a democratic system, and if you send your kids to a government-funded school you agree to submit to the views of the "majority". Ultimately though, it's up to you to decide whether you want them to be in the public system or not.
One must consider the child's civil liberties, and if condoning brainwashing by parents is in the best interests of them.
However, this is beside the point. The real issue is if something with zero evidence should be taught in school as though it has evidence. Creationism should only be taught in a mythology class if at all. Anything else, and it's government endorsement of a religion.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)