[Dimensio]

I think that part of the problem here is a misunderstanding of the term "vestigal". A vestigal organ is not one that has absolutely no function, it is one with a function that is greatly diminished in importance than the same type of organ when found in other animals. "Legs" on whales and the coccyx on humans are greatly diminished in "functionality" than the same part on other animals, having diminished because over time they became less and less important to the survival of the species and as such they are correctly termed "vestigal".

[kuma]

I think the misunderstanding is that these are criticisms that have been leveled at the inaccuracy of textbooks from all views within evolution.

I would state though that mating is a pretty big part of survival of whales and that those are not legs that became less useful overtime but are crucial to the mating process. I don't see how that could be considered "vestigial". I simply see it as they thought they were legs but with more careful observation they found out they weren't.

It is perfectly alright to be a scientist and find out with further study that you were wrong. This is just like everything else concerning education in America, it's all about egos and nothing to do with learning.