“Evolution is perhaps the most important part of biology that all educated citizens should be aware of,”
I’d say that recent events have proven that is wrong. The fact that humans are grouped into immutable sexes, called “man” and “woman”, and of which there are only 2 categories, is a much more relevant and important part of biology that educated citizens need to be aware of.
Once teachers show us they can do that job correctly, then maybe they can make the argument that they have spare time to spend on evolution.
Exactly. I don’t believe in evolution. But apart from basic belief, I don’t see it as essential for a High School student to know. There are other things that a young person has a more immediate need to know — and school seem to teach those things poorly. Adding concepts of speciation, genetic drift, natural selection, and descent from a common ancestor just doesn’t like essential knowledge for young people as they go out into the world.
Hey, if a kid likes biology, wants to go to college and study biology, then by all means go ahead and teach them: “Our best guess as to how the variety of life came about is explained by this concept known as the Theory of Evolution ...”. But to approach this topic with kids at a young age is pure political propaganda, in my opinion.