> Public schools should teach both evolution and creationism, and students should be given the choice which of those courses they want to take.
Yeah! And public schools should teach both the heliocentric AND hollow Earth theories! And they should teach both the "Islamic whackos flying jetliners" AND "Angry thumb of God" theories behind the collapse of the WTC! And they should teach both the "germ" theory of disease AND the "out of balance humours" theory of disease! And they should teach both the "cause and effect" theory of reality AND the "Astrology and oujii boards" theory of reality!
If people want this, then yes. That's the point. Government is now in the business of deciding what we should and should not be taught. While you apparently have no problem with this as long as it agrees with your own beliefs, if government decides in the future that hollow earth theory should be taught and heliocentric theory should not be taught, then it would be within its rights to do so. Don't like it? Tough. You'll still be required to pay for it and your children (if you have any) would still be required to learn it, assuming you couldn't afford a private school.
The best thing to do is be selective, but not overly so, when establishing a cirriculum. Besides, how do you know the earth is not hollow? Did you come from down there, or did someone who's never been down there tell you about it?
"And they should teach both the "Islamic whackos flying jetliners" AND "Angry thumb of God" theories behind the collapse of the WTC!"
Don't forget the "A sinister NeoCon/Zionist cabal plotted it on behalf of Halliburton" theory.