I had a nice, long reply about the independently observable vs. the 'truth' that requires someone to tell you what it is and the power went out for a couple of hours. Now, I just feel like saying something succinct.

Forget teaching only evolution or only creationism. Teach kids how to think critically and independently, teach them the difference between fact and faith, present them with different scientific theories and religious dogmas and let them decide what to believe.

Personally, I don't think religious beliefs should be taught in public schools, and if it weren't for religion, creationism would not exist. Let churches and religious private schools teach it - your kid's atheist or Muslim or Jewish science teacher might not present it the way you'd like anyway. I think turtles ougtht to be included, and then there's Gaia whise story makes some sense, and isn't there one with an otter? Personally, I'm rather enjoying Dave Carter's song "Gentle Arms of Eden" these days:

on a sleepy endless ocean when the world lay in a dream
there was rhythm in the splash and roll, but not a voice to sing
so the moon shone on the breakers and the morning warmed the waves
till a single cell did jump and hum for joy as though to say

this is my home, this is my only home
this is the only sacred ground that i have ever known
and should i stray in th dark night alone
rock me goddess in the gentle arms of eden

I also think there's no higher form of teaching than to help a child learn how to think critically. Scientific theories may contain errors, lack a bit of information or be flat-out, 100% wrong, and the ones who let others tell them what to believe are never the ones who irritate humankind into moving further down the road. Moldy old farts and crazy people: somewhere in the middle is growth, and it wouldn't happen without either extreme.