sadly I live in a state where too many people can't seem to grasp that religion has no place in science classes, not matter what label you try and disguise it under. Call it "Intelligent Design", or "Creationism" it is still religion, has no basis in science, scientific theory, process, and not one scientist, or creditable scientific group approves of it's inclusion into science classes as an alternative to evolution.
Evolution is real science. It is based on scientific method, and while there is some dissension within the scientific community over small details of things, it is not disputed as a valid theory.
One reason people seem to bge confused about all this, is due to a general lack of understanding of terminology. A theory in scientific terms is not the same thing as a theory in common usage. A Theory, or theorum, in science, such as the Theory of evolution, refers to a hypothesis which has been proven true based on observation, and/or testing. The data gathered from testing, or observation is subjected to analysis, and the results are then published, and subjected to peer review. A valid theory can predict the result of future testing, or observation. A theory is no less valid than a law, just unable to be proven by th specific methods of testing needed to consider a theory, a law.
While you can call Intelligent design a reasonable hypothesis, it does not meet any of the required standards to be considered a valid scientific theory. There is absolutely no evidence to back the hypothesis, no testing, or experimentation possible to provide results, and thus it fails the minimum stadards to be considered science. Thus it has no place in a science class, unless it is mentioned in the context of being a non-scientific alternate belief to the theory of evolution.
