[Mamzelle]

If evolution had been taught as an indespensible model (which it is)--the IDers would never have had the momentum to cause as much anguish as they clearly have. It was the folly of teaching it as dogma which opened the door that the evos are now so frantic to shut. And, those who don't know much about the debate, keep wondering, "Why not give it a hearing? What are you so terrified of?" Because--it sure looks like terror, all this over-the-top behavior.

When teachers feel free to jeer at a student's religious beliefs...well, you're going to have trouble in your playground. Those students have organized to challenge and hector, and the teachers themselves are not behaving in a very attractive manner.

[Coyoteman]

If evolution had been taught as an indespensible model (which it is)--the IDers would never have had the momentum to cause as much anguish as they clearly have. It was the folly of teaching it as dogma which opened the door that the evos are now so frantic to shut.

Are you really suggesting that the theory of evolution matches one or more of these definitions?

Dogma: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof

Belief: any cognitive content (perception) held as true; religious faith

Faith the belief in something for which there is no evidence or logical proof

[Stultis]

It was the folly of teaching it as dogma which opened the door that the evos are now so frantic to shut.

No, it wasn't teaching it "as dogma". It was simply teaching it. Just go look at the textbooks, from almost any era, and certainly over the last 70 or 80 years. Where evolution is taught it will generally be, and often by a dramatic margin, the LEAST "dogmatically" presented theory in the entire book. Dozens, hundreds of theories will be treated as entirely matter of fact, usually without even being identified as a "theory," but evolution, and evolution alone, will be something that "some scientists believe," or will be ensconced in a thick coat of similar qualifications.

The antievolution movement doesn't now, and never has, had a damn thing to do with how evolution is taught, only that it is taught.