[hellbender]

American History may have nothing to do with neurosurgery, but everything to do with being a good citizen, one smart enough not to fall for liberal lies. That makes it useful to everyone, neurosurgeons as well as the rest. Neurosurgeons need basic biology also, yet they can get away without evolution. So evolution is not critical even to biology.

What kids should be learning in middle school is math and basic physics and chemistry. Those are what biology is based on. Evolution can come later, and only for those who need it. I think the real reason for teaching it to young impressionable middle school students is to inculcate a materialistic, reductionist view of human nature, which is encouraged by evolutionary thinking in the absence of other values; values which have been purged from our schools.

There is no serious, massive threat that evolution will be purged from the curriculum. That's hype and paranoia. However, American students are woefully deficient in hard science and math.

[ndt]

"What kids should be learning in middle school is math and basic physics and chemistry. "

Skipping evolution in biology is equivalent to skipping Atomic theory in chemistry. You might still be able to make wintergreen oil by following the directions, but without Atomic theory, you just don't get chemistry. Without evolution you just don't get biology..

"...the real reason for teaching [evolution] is to inculcate a materialistic, reductionist view of human nature."

No, it's really not. It really is the cornerstone of biology. No sinister plot.

"There is no serious, massive threat that evolution will be purged from the curriculum."

This article is from the Discovery Institute. Purging evolution and materialism in general is their stated goal.

"That's hype and paranoia."

No, thats the thread you are reading.

"However, American students are woefully deficient in hard science and math."

Well I can agree with that.