I try hard not to wade into these things because no ones mind will be changed here. However, I just want to make one point. I taught Biology in the Bible Belt. I always had at least one student stand up and say they didn't want to learn about evolution because they didn't believe it, it went against their religious beliefs, etc.
The kids WANTED to discuss it, but we really could not. I think it's wrong, when a topic brings that much controversy, that there is no option to explore it. Personally, I don't have any desire to teach ID because I don't think it's really science. I tried to tell those students that the state required that they learn about evolutionary theory, not that they believe it, and if they wanted to be able to make an intelligent arguement to persuade anyone, they needed to know exactly what evolution was about.
And, the entire biology curriculum (and I suspect this is true everywhere) is based on evolution as a fact. So, if a parent doesn't want their child to learn about it, they will pretty much have to opt out of biology entirely.
I personally don't think that learning about evolution (if the parent is talking to the child and taking care of their religious upbringing) is going to turn them away from God. I am a born again Christian, and I cannot say I'm positive exactly how God created the earth and us. He certainly has abilities I cannot even fathom. But, I do understand the concern of parents who feel like the school systems are trying to indoctrinate their children and change their values/beliefs.
If evolution were the only bone of contention between parents and schools, then maybe we would be able to just suggest they wear tinfoil hats. However, we read stories every day of examples of schools stepping over the boundaries.
Just my 2 cents, worth a little less than you paid for it.
susie
Since you are a teacher of biology, please provide a specific example.
Actually, from your post, it appears you tried to get across to your kids that you did not believe in evolution and neither should they. I hope you no longer teach biology.
This is not a productive attitude. You could tell the kids that all the "facts" taught in science class are the best currently available explanations for phenomena. In the case of evolution, you could present a list of phenomena that would have to be explained by any competing theory. You could also present a list of authors like Gould, Eldredge and Mayr, who have argued the case in layman's terms. For all I care you could mention Behe and Dembski.