[gardengirl]

Being a bright, inquisitive and sometimes sarcastic kid- I once asked a teacher why there were footprints in rock, clearly human, if there weren't any people here until 15000 years ago.
"There can't be."
OK. Well how long does it take rock to form?
"Milions of years."
Well, what about the footprints?
"There aren't any."
OK. How did the footprints get there?
"THERE ARE NO FOOTPRINTS!!!"
OK. I went back to the creek after school and happily played in my non existent footprints in rock. I decided real early that teachers didn't know half as much as they thoguht they did, and scientists knew less than that. If something didn't fit their theory, why then, it simply didn't exist! I still laugh about that and I've taught my kids to never take anything at face value. Question, question, question! And keep your eyes open!

[Robert A Cook PE]

Rock certainly doesn't take millions of years to form: But, certain types of rock (in certain layered depths) are definitely millions (billions!) of years old.

Volcanic ash, for example, could take form in only days (long enough for it to cool - get walked across, then get covered by a second layer of ash or dirt. Even the African footprints of recent fame are very recent geologically.

Forming others, like limestone from sediment layers under the sea? Sure. Takes along time. But then again, last I noticed, people then weren't walking under the sea.

[Red Badger]

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/11/30_fp.shtml

[Grizzled Bear]

How dare you question the great and terrible state-school! Do pay attention to the politicians behind the curtain...