Why would evolution not be suited for teaching in schools?

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

Large numbers of Americans believe that the theory of evolution should not be taught in schools, or at least not taught more than in passing. My question is why? Are there any viable, scientific alternatives?

[Greek Firethrower]

Are there any viable, scientific alternatives?

No.
The most scientist(I'm sure there exists a few exceptions) agree the theorie.

[Lord Baal]

Large numbers of Americans believe that the theory of evolution should not be taught in schools, or at least not taught more than in passing. My question is why?

Ignorance is a bliss? They rather hold onto their belief there's a gigantic invisible friend looking out for them? They believe they/us (humans) are really that special? It goes against a well established social control system that is also quite profitable? They believe that since the word theory is in there, it's not true? I could go on like this for hours... you pick one.

Are there any viable, scientific alternatives?

No.

[SuperTechmarine]

I dont see how they will even fit in the cramped education system they have.

Keep it for Middle/High School?

[Gaidin]

I dont see how they will even fit in the cramped education system they have.

The same way they teach calculus at that level. By going over the basics, and not the fundamental, advanced theory.

[Lord Baal]

I got evolution on biology back in high school. It was not a great deal but it covered the basics. I wonder they do/could do the same. Science belongs to academic institutions, from kinder garden to colleges just as religion belongs to temples and homes, period. The day someone comes up with a better theory with even more proves that those of evolution, we should switch to imparting that immediately. Thought I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

[SuperTechmarine]

I guess they could teach it in Biology/Science class.

[John I Tzimisces]

I guess they could teach it in Biology/Science class.

It...is already. Admittedly to my recollection we spent more time talking about genetics/heredity than evolution as it's own subject.

[Sphere]

I guess they could teach it in Biology/Science class.

I am not following you.

[issues]

I was taught evolution in 10th grade, way to far along in school for it to be taught for such an important thing. It needs to be earlier because without evolution the rest of biology is a bit nonsensical.

[Humble Warrior]

If you`re brought up by a strongly Christian family then go to school to find your biology teacher saying something completely different, it can be a confusing shock to the fragile little innocent mind...

It`s one thing when some kid in the play ground says it, it`s another when a representative of authoritarian society says it. Who to believe... your parents who went to so much work looking after you? Or the secondary educaters?

Why is everyone saying different things?

[Lord Baal]

I think both things can coexist as long you accept them both for what they are. The sooner people get in their heads that religious writings are supposed to be moral compasses and not The World Factbook of whatever date/place they "cover", the better we all get along. However I don't wait for it anytime soon. Whenever a fact of those books conflicts with you know... reality, I bet reality has the upper hand.

[boofhead]

Evolution should be taught in Atheism class, and Creationism and Intelligent Design in Biology.

[Lord Baal]

Exactly... wait what?

[Agent Miles]

People with strong beliefs don’t want a school to teach anything but the basics. Voters elect school board members who instruct teachers to use what they determine is acceptable curriculum. They believe that an omnipotent being created a universe that looks 13.72 billion years old, even though it is only a few thousand years old. So creationist textbooks cater to their dogma.

[John Doe]

The new testament clearly refers to human as a sheep that needs be kept in a flock. Children are easier to brainwash than adult, the younger the more difficult it will be for them to challenge faith.

And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth

It is god's command for man to subdue and rule over earth, science such as geology, genetics and biology are tools to obey His word. Creationism isn't.

I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth

Obviously, if people were so serious about the righteousness of the bible, they would campaign to outlaw any painfree birth methods as well. Being popular matters more to them than being good christians....

[Humble Warrior]

The new testament clearly refers to human as a sheep that needs be kept in a flock. Children are easier to brainwash than adult, the younger the more difficult it will be for them to challenge faith.

Sorry, I just have to correct this incredible misunderstanding of the Bible.

This is clearly not understanding the Bible. It`s not about brainwashing, it`s about you accepting Jesus Christ\God etc into your life as meekly as a sheep to His care, fully aware of what you`re doing. This is also what the child thing also refers to. Unless you come to God with the meekness or acceptance of a child you won`t get into Heaven.

Obviously, if people were so serious about the righteousness of the bible, they would campaign to outlaw any painfree birth methods as well. Being popular matters more to them than being good christians....

There`s more completely misunderstood thinking going on here... People who are serious about the Bible won`t kill you for not following its word. A good Christian cares nothing for popularity. In my experience, it`s the non-religious types who are all about popularity and being in with the crowd.

Carry on.

[Lord Baal]

So caesarean section and epidural are against the good book? Interesting.

[Sphere]

The sooner people get in their heads that religious writings are supposed to be moral compasses and not The World Factbook of whatever date/place they "cover", the better we all get along.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Genesis 10

This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
2 The sons[a] of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan:
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.[b] 5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)

6 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush was the father[c] of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in[d] Shinar.[e] 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir,[f] Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13 Egypt was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15 Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn,[g] and of the Hittites,
16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
Later the Canaanite clans scattered
19 and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was[h] Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23 The sons of Aram:
Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.[i]
24 Arphaxad was the father of[j] Shelah,
and Shelah the father of Eber.
25 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,[k] because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.

[Lord Baal]

The sooner people get in their heads that religious writings are supposed to be moral compasses and not The World Factbook of whatever date/place they "cover", the better we all get along.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Genesis 10

This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
2 The sons[a] of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan:
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.[b] 5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)

6 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush was the father[c] of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in[d] Shinar.[e] 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir,[f] Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13 Egypt was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15 Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn,[g] and of the Hittites,
16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
Later the Canaanite clans scattered
19 and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was[h] Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23 The sons of Aram:
Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.[i]
24 Arphaxad was the father of[j] Shelah,
and Shelah the father of Eber.
25 Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,[k] because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.

However I don't wait for it anytime soon.

Whenever a fact of those books conflicts with you know... reality, I bet reality has the upper hand.

As for example, the whole mankind gene pool coming from a single couple and a few aggregated people, not only once but twice, and not being mutated into extinction. And I'm not taking into account all the rest of little details that goes with that history, or more precisely, precedes that history, as lack of geological evidence of a global flood, the fact that only two of every kind of animal would doomed the vast majority of them to extinction after one more generation, the storage needed to actually fit two animals of every kind, from the whole globe, just to name a few.