"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered." This sticker is dishonest start to finish.
1) It is promoted not to help kids understand science, but to undermine their trust in science in general, and the theory of evolution in particular, thereby (it was hoped) promoting alternate ideas (read fundamentalist religion). 2) It is directed only at the theory of evolution, not at all scientific theories, although within science the methods are standardized. Now, who is it that singles out evolution for special treatment (read fundamentalist religion).
3) They ask for "critical consideration," as if that's the fair thing to do. Teach the controversy! Its just a theory! Absolutely wrong, as usual. In evolutionary sciences, there is no controversy. These are dishonest claims manufactured by adherents of certain fundamentalist religious beliefs based on a) their denial of the findings of science and evolution, b) a willful disregard for the actual scientific use of the term "theory," and c) a political agenda pandering to their base, which is obviously unfamiliar with science and evolution and willing to believe whatever they are told. Check out the evolution journals in your schools library and learn what is really going. If you are at an adequate institution, these periodicals probably take up several floors.
Sorry Dave, it just won't wash.
You write "they've banned even challenges on evolution" knowing that is not true.
What is banned is promoting a fundamentalist view of religion in science classes, where it has absolutely no business.
- Fundamentalists would have a "global flood" taught as real science although creationist geologists trying to prove the flood gave up about 1830 or so.
- Fundamentalists would have the age of the earth limited to less than 10,000 years, or close to 6,000 years if they could swing it. There is no scientific evidence for this, in spite of what Answers in Guinness and other fundamentalist websites may claim. (As an aside, I have personally obtained radiocarbon dates older than 10,000 years, and when I bring this up all the fundamentalists can do is put forth unscientific claims in support of their preconceived position. "It can't be so because we believe otherwise.")
- Some fundamentalists even claim humans and dinosaurs walked to earth together and dinosaurs were on the ark. There is absolutely no scientific evidence for this. Bones of various Pleistocene critters are common (mammoth and mastodon are two good examples). Bones of dinosaurs are all fossils, dated some 60 million years or older. This is one of the clearest points in science, but fundamentalists won't accept it because of their religious beliefs. But what is pitiful is that they claim scientific evidence support their religious beliefs, and they twist science as far as necessary to make it so.
You and your co-religionists are doing apologetics (defense of religion), not science. You should be honest and admit it.
You and your co-religionists are doing apologetics (defense of religion), not science. Ok... you got me.... I admit it.
Happy now?
(Oh; the 'science' is tainted by a LOT of opinion, hoping and guessing)