Straw-man argument...Nobody has a direct, or indirect, interest to "keep kids ignorant".
On the contrary, we may want to set the kids free from the ignorance related to the assumed conclusions associated with the "theory" of evolution (HOX gene mutations giving rise to arms/legs with hands/feet from lobe-finned fishes, "feathered dinosaurs" like Sinosauropteryx and etc.), for which there is no evidence.
Changes in homeotic (HOX) genes cause monstrosities (two heads, a leg where an eye should be, etc.), not profound beneficial changes that explain, and/or provide evidence for, reptile to land mammal evolution and common ancestry.
Should the kids learn about these truths and the related, actual, scientific study (see Dr. Christian Schwabe, Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)? Or should we just let this unscientific explanation stand in order to support and underpin Darwinian evolution?
Which side is really promoting scientific ignorance here?
Is it scientifically-informed and intellectually honest to put feathers on dinosaurs for which there is no such evidence (see Dr. Alan Feduccia's October 10, 2005 Press Release related to his team's study of Sinosauropteryx. The Press release is at the UNC Chapel Hill website (News Archives) or the actual study at the Journal of Morphology website)? Shall we inform the kids or just keep them ignorant?
And given what science is...the best, and only thing, "science" can offer is naturalistic explanations for origins (abiogenesis). Some scientists say origins had it's cause in unguided natural processes via random chance. Some, like Dr. Crick of DNA Double Helix fame, say that origins was the result of space aliens (ID gone wild). These theories are philosophical/religous in nature too.
So how do you propose that we eliminate the teaching of some philosophy/religion in the science classroom? And how do these forementioned abiogenesis theories trump the assumption that God did the creative work in accordance with what the Bible says?
Which is worse...ignorance or "scientific" propaganda that produces ignorance?
As a non-scientific person I was attempting to craft a response, but your's is far more eloquent and "scientific." I would only add that it takes far more faith to believe intelligent humans can evolve from mindless slime than to believe that an intelligent Creator created the heavens, the earth, and humans to populate the earth. So... I guess I could argue that all classes that teach evolution are classes of GREAT faith.
But God has chosen the things which the world regards as foolish, in order to put its wise men to shame; and God has chosen the things which the world regards as destitute of influence, in order to put its powerful things to shame. (1 Corinthians 1:27)