I agree with the theory of 'generational ignorance'.
The problem is that it is not simple ignorance that is self-propagating - it is willful ignorance (term first coined by another member long ago - can't remember who) - the outright rejection of information inconsistent with previously held convictions.
This is the true anathema to science and the public understanding of science.
The simply ignorant can be educated; they can be made aware of their lack of knowledge and motivated to improve it.
You cannot educate the willfully ignorant because they refuse to recognize the limitations of their own understanding.
And they get upset when you try and educate their children in any way that condradicts their willfully ignorant convictions.
So we have to seek the root cause of willful ignorance which, unfortunately, is most often blind belief in some religious superstition.
This is by primary beef with religion - although belief in a religion may foster behaviors conducive to a stable society, it is also a root cause of willful ignorance.
In fact, I am hard put to think of any other cause.
This is the strongest reason I know of to keep all religious interests from influencing educational policy. The only religion in school should be that which is studied objectively as a social phenomenon.
EZ
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