Others, like President Bush, suggest "teaching the controversy." Is this supposed to be a safe middle ground? To fully comprehend "the controversy," someone has to teach the competing ideas. Should that be the role of a public school teacher? I think not.

It's not a science teacher's job to teach students what to believe. Science teaches what can be quantified and explained. Students learn about theories and proven concepts. And as Brent Moulding, state curriculum director, explains, today's public school students will be competing in a globalized economy that demands a growing number of workers with science backgrounds. "They need to be taught science."

There are countless opportunities outside the public school setting for parents to reinforce their particular religious or non-religious points of view about the origin of man. These are deeply personal matters, not the stuff of a one-size-fits-all, "others may disagree with evolution theory" discussion in the junior high or high school science classroom.

I say no. Don't go there. Parents need to do their duty as moms and dads and give their children the benefit of their beliefs. That's far more dignified and meaningful than a debate that may or may not respect one's beliefs and is an absolute no-win for science teachers.

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Marjorie Cortez is a Desert Morning News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com