[Pooeypants]

I'm going to introduce myself with a disagreement with you cachekntx: While Evolution is a theory, to quote "The creationists make it sound like evolution was thought up after a hard night drinking". Sure its still a theory, but it has a lot more evidence going for it, than a book that was Orally transmitted for over 800 years, and has no valid tangible proof, short of the assurances that can be given by figures such as the Pope, who happens to incidentally be running one of the worlds richest orgnisations.

I'll be quoting from here.
"In the American vernacular, "theory" often means "imperfect fact"--part of a hierarchy of confidence running downhill from fact to theory to hypothesis to guess. Thus the power of the creationist argument: evolution is "only" a theory and intense debate now rages about many aspects of the theory. If evolution is worse than a fact, and scientists can't even make up their minds about the theory, then what confidence can we have in it? Indeed, President Reagan echoed this argument before an evangelical group in Dallas when he said (in what I devoutly hope was campaign rhetoric): "Well, it is a theory. It is a scientific theory only, and it has in recent years been challenged in the world of science--that is, not believed in the scientific community to be as infallible as it once was."
"Well evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape-like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."

Schools should not be teaching evolution, they dont here in Australia. And the reasons are as above - Theres no tangible proof - It shows that there isnt a seperation between church and state - It limits peoples perspective, and discourages free thought

Schools in UK teach evolution as biology, just like the cell theory or the theory of Germs, infact, biology wouldn't make sense if evolution wasn't taught along side it (at higher level such as Secondary school). Evolution has as much proof as that which supports that gravity exists. It has been recorded scientifically many times. Evolution has nothing to do with church and state, so no idea what you're on about there. And it does in no way limit ppl's perspective or discourage free thought. Unless you can prove otherwise.

On the other hand, playing the devils advocate why should we teach evolution, and biology? - Natural Selection, Genetic Theory are linked heavily in Mutation proposed by Darwin's "The Origin of Species"

I don't think Darwin new anything about mutations but he did propose that variation will arise, same thing but genetics was before his time (which goes to show what a genius he was (brown nose moment :p)).

- It has more proof going for it than the nearest contender

Correction, creationism has no proof, hence it is the only explanation for the diversity of life.

- It's not open for interpretation, and represents the most likely occurance of what really happened.

Science is all about interpreting the data, but yes it does represent the most likely occurance of what really happened...exactly the same with all science. (nothing is absolute if you boil it down to the most accurate level).

- Its being taught as a THEORY, not FACT. But its also being taught with the EVIDENCE that will some-day prove it. (See the first post for examples) -Gwala

See above about fact and theory of evolution.

tsk tsk, looks like some ppl need lessons in science and terminology.