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Unless you're a libertarian who does not believe in any government role beyond law enforcement and the military, everyone agrees that education is a legitimate role of government.

First of all, there is no provision in the Constitution for the federal funding of education. Secondly, we have all seen what happens when different groups try to use public funds to push their ideas on the rest of the country.

I oppose evolution-only education in public (i.e., government) schools because I don't think I or anyone else should be forced to pay for it. On the other hand, I think the creationists who complain about it shouldn't be dumping their children into the cesspool of the government-run education system in the first place.

We must cultivate our own talent. This includes using scientific education, such as museums that can capture the imagination and excite children about science.

Sure, but let the market decide. Fighting for control over the public purse strings is the wrong approach. Who gets to decide what is and isn't "science"? As so many on this forum are fond of pointing out, evolution has nothing to do with studying the origin of life, the universe and everything. So who gets to decide what theories on that particular subject are to be included in a publicly funded museum?

The public funding of education in general is a socialist trap. It also fuels these never-ending debates between creationists and evolutionists. I don't mean to detract from the article that started this thread, but eliminating taxpayer dollars would help end many of the problems.

Who gets to decide what is and isn't "science"?

I think the fact that almost 100% of scientists in biological fields say that evolution is the only scientific theory that explains the diversity of life on earth is a pretty good indicator that we should consider it science. Also the fact that creationism and intelligent design have no citations in any peer-reviewed literature.

Who gets to decide what is and isn't "science"?

Uh, the scientists?

As so many on this forum are fond of pointing out, evolution has nothing to do with studying the origin of life, the universe and everything.

Really? Evolution is the study of the origin of life. Unless you are talking about the biochemical origins of life 3.8 billion years ago, instead of its subsequent development from a common ancestor to the species of today. That I will grant you is still quite mysterious, and I am not prepared to argue that it was not designed. (I believe God created life to create itself through evolution. I in particular believe that evolution is not incompatible with Christianity, either evangelical or Catholic.)

My larger point remains: science education, including biology and in particular evolution (the basis of modern biology), is critical to our national security. I do not want to live in a country where working poor or minorities have no access to education. This isn't socialism. It is necessary for our democracy. Now there are serious problems with our schools (discipline, shoddy curricula, poor teachers, etc.). The remedy is not to destroy public education. The remedy is to fix it. We have made some progress in No Child Left Behind, which has installed high-stakes testing to make sure that the education establishment doesn't waste too many of our tax dollars teaching the kids rainbow multiculturalism, or how to be creative. But of course there is a huge way to go.