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Something interesting about this issue. If students are questioning evolution with these creationsit/ID talking points, the biology teachers should be able to do more than refute them, but use it as an opportunity to teach more science. As I've mentioned in previous threads, my biggest pet peeve are people that don't get the basic science right when they argue creationism. If the teachers can correct scientific misunderstanding, it will go a long way to improving scientific education in this country. I've seen the ID/creationsist websites and they are terrible with misrepresentations, outdated (i.e. 19th century) thinking and outright lies. We've all seen it in these threads and responded with a great breadth of knowledge. In other words, the creationists types are right by promoting critical thinking, but for the wrong reasons. It is up to the teachers to be prepared for these questions and respond accordingly. It does make an excellent learning opportunity.

We've all seen it in these threads and responded with a great breadth of knowledge

Yes, and the problem is that in spite of all of the well-reasoned and informed corrections that are provided to every creationist misconception and flat-out lie that gets dredged up here, less than a week later we're sure to see some of them cropping back up again.

That's why this is problematic in a public school environment. Even if the instructor is capable of addressing every question brought forth, what are the chances that the same questions founded in the same ignorance are going to be popping up week after week by students who, like the creationists here, refuse to learn?

If students are questioning evolution with these creationsit/ID talking points, the biology teachers should be able to do more than refute them,

This is the problem - most teachers really don't know much about what they are teaching. None of my history teachers really knew that much about history - if a student ever asked anything that wasn't mentioned in the book, the teacher would have been lost. Most think that rote memorization of trivial facts that will quickly be forgotten ("what exact date was the battle of Vicksburg fought") rather than teaching the big picture ("why was the battle of Vicksburg important").

I was in line at a Chik-fil-A one a few years ago and some teachers on break from a teacher's conference were behind me. I heard them complaining about the state's new teacher standardized tests - they were upset that it would have 7th grade math on it. I heard one teacher say "Bob may be for it, but he's a math wiz - I'm good with kids though".

How does any adult get through daily life if 7th grade math is a challenge? For most, 7th grade math is still arithmetic and not even algebra.

There are certainly exceptions, but education majors are typically the ones that couldn't hack it in any other major. Every one that I met are basically women that just want like kids and couldn't pass anything else.

Many states require a masters now, but that doesn't help since the masters is in education which at most schools is basically worthless. Schools would be better off hiring guys with bachelor of science degrees that at least know what they are doing in their respective subjects.