It is precisely because evolution is such an easy concept to teach and understand that it is so troubling that there is this huge effort to not teach it. Let us

It is precisely because evolution is such an easy concept to teach and understand that it is so troubling that there is this huge effort to not teach it. Let us step back for just a moment from the pinhole view of this one subject and realize that the primary job of educators is to teach students how to think. If a student is shown pictures (or, better yet, up-close-and-personal on a field trip!) of geological strata, and shown how the processes work that formed those features, and then they are given a counter-argument by other authority figures that everything that they've seen there is wrong because faith says so, what is that doing to those students' ability to reason? Do you not think that a widespread disregard for the easy-to-understand concept of evolution would also spill over into a widespread disregard for other fields of study? Creationism is the color guard of anti-intellectualism; shame on anyone who would try to rationally argue that we should not run it out of our educational institutions with the broadswords of critical thinking and rational curiosity. [1] Do you think that people who grow up believing that a religious book written nearly 3,000 years ago is more informative on the topic of natural sciences than all of the scientific efforts since will really have any opportunity in the world's science & technology arena? I don't. Why should we not argue instead in favor of the principles of enlightenment? In the late 1600s, in an effort to defend its religion, the Scottish Kirk established schools around the country that would teach anybody -- no matter their social standing -- the basics of reading and writing. What followed soon after was a period of industrial and technological and economic development in Scotland that rivals any other enlightenment period in Europe. It takes a remarkable ignorance of human history to argue against education. If you want to change the communities that these kids come from, you have to teach them how to do it. And that includes teaching them evolution, and making sure that they understand why creationism is bad thinking. [1]: Nothing personal; I'm not attacking you specifically here, but it is frustrating to see so many "what's the big deal?" comments -- this is precisely the sort of intellectual atmosphere created when 46% of the population rejects basic scientific principles.