MCubb

I see the importance of early introduction of all sorts of topics - evolution being just one! If you give a kid a book about some complicated topic - say evolution - when they're as young as possible, that'll foster a fascination and early understanding of the subject and give that child a head start of however many years between when they read it and when the topic is generally introduced in school, usually high school.

Now as for evolution specifically, I see it as a topic that really branches out into many other important realms. By learning about where we came from and how, we're able to extrapolate that and look at how we affect the world around us. There's been some really amazing forced evolution of animals by humans, so it brings into play anthropocentric lessons as well!

Haha, I'd hope very soon!

I have not, but I have seen the great pics of cauliflower!

It's all about genetic diversity! If everyone reproduces asexually, genetic diversity drops hard. And when a disease comes along it sweeps through very easily and every dies out.

By reproducing with another individual, you increase genetic diversity, so when something big does happen, there'll be individuals with ways to cope and change, so the species lives on.

I actually don't have much experience with religious schools, but solely as a scientist, it's definitely disappointing - especially if most of your schools are religious, as there won't be much of a choice for anyone!