Evolution had far broader effects on human thought and development. A better question would be why you are so reticent about a history course including something so profoundly important?

Jesus christ man, it's shaped the course of scientific development, philosophical thought, religion, secularism, and pretty much everything else it's touched, and you haven't found that 'even slightly important actually'?!

Given the influence of evolutionary thinking on computer programming, there's actually quite a lot of humour right there.

No Scopes Monkey Trial in your high school curriculum?

You mean apart from the bit where it explains the evolution of every living creature on the planet since life began? Oooh, so we have stone tablets from this period? Cool.

History for me begins with Herodotus - it has to be recorded, it has to be extant and it has to be written, otherwise, it ain't history. I can talk about Thor bringing Lightning to monkeys who learned how to make fire, and Zeus shagging swans, and meteors striking the earth and bacteria becoming people, but that's myth. I don't get to teach myth.

There's something wrong with a history textbook that doesn't at least mention Darwin's discovery and its various, long-lasting and far-reaching repercussions.

The theory of evolution actually is historically important and evolution itself is also historically important. You mean Darwinian natural selection?

So's Lamarckism.

Sure, it's relevant to history of science courses that talk about the development of the sciences, but outside of that? Not really. Now Galton was very influential at the turn of the century, and his work had serious social concerns. I do teach Galton and I do teach Malthus.

Darwin wrote a whole ****ing book on it. He doesn't even rate top billing for 'Victorian biological discoveries.' I could be pursuaded to list him in the top 5.

Well, there's also this thing about Darwin's theory being instrumental for subsequent scientific and social developments. Not really. Most of that was Malthus and Galton. Darwin did have the 'Descent of Man', but Galton was the one who really got all the sociobiological ideas at the turn of the century fired up. The whole desire to improve the race of man through good breeding and elimination of the inferior mongoloid races - Galton.

Malthus still holds sway today. I can go to any class and within 5 minutes pick out someone stating something Malthus said. And more likely than not not knowing who said it. That's how influential Malthus is to the world today.

Anyone else creeped out that Ben's know exactly how long it would take him to get to nearby schools?

Anyone else creeped out that Ben's know exactly how long it would take him to get to nearby schools? Uh, I was referring to how long it would take someone in the class to say something that Malthus said, if I asked the right questions.

But then reading comprehension isn't your strong suit I take it?

So you're saying that you don't know how far away classrooms are from where you live?

Plausible deniability, very wise.

Okay... just for laughs, list your "top five Victorian biological discoveries".

Apparently Da Shi's religion rejects the concept of laziness.