Actually, Trav, I don't think I'm the one who missed the point. You seem to assume that there are no questions that can be regarded as settled. I suggest it is effectively settled that things alive today evolved from earlier forms. Even the Catholic Church now puts it members on notice that the physical parts of human beings evolved from earlier forms when it cautions that while they are free to believe this, they must still believe that souls did not evolve but were created by God in their present form, whatever that is. I suggest that evolution of living things is a truth at least at the 99 level. My question was about the acceptability of people encouraging, even forcing, children to reject evolution as a myth. I'm suggesting that nobody has the right to treat children like this. Do you think that they do?

" ... yet it is unlikely all members of the state will follow it or even accept it."
Posted by McReal, Saturday, 22 October 2011 10:31:40 AM

Precisely what pluralism is all about; nobody is coerced into a confession. The state respects and does not impinge on the others' right to practice a religion; this respect extends to the defence of others who may be prevented from their just exercise.
It is expected to find crucifixes & statues in a Catholic school, just as it is expected to find emblems associated with the jewish faith in a jewish school.