Each teacher has to take an approach to origins that balances their own convictions and professional judgement on the one hand, and the concerns of the school administration and the community on the other hand. A very important issue is often forgotten in the controversy about evolution and creation in the public schools-freedom of speech. The teacher should have the freedom of speech to critique evolution if they believe that is appropriate. And the students should have the freedom of speech to voice opposition to a strict evolutionary viewpoint and not have to fear that the teacher would belittle them or disrespect them as a result. In some schools, teachers and students have lost this freedom already.
Parents have a very significant influence on elementary and secondary public schools.
The scientific establishment does not influence these schools directly, but it has a very powerful influence indirectly. In fact, the Kansas Board's decision is itself a reaction against earlier efforts of the science education community to promote science standards emphasizing evolution more than ever before. The Kansas Board toned down some of the very strong statements related to evolution that the scientific community wanted in the education standards. I think this action from the Board was in the interest of parents. The scientific community is vested with a lot of authority in our society and we owe science a great deal for how it has benefitted us in daily life.