“The elephant in the room is”
I think the definition of this phrase
is: an obvious, clearly visible and shocking item that by some sort of unspoken agreement, no one dares mention.
That is not what is happening here. No one need beg the question, they block evolution because they don’t believe it.
Perhaps they haven’t thought into it as well as you have (snicker!) and believe that evolution is denying creation. and so it is.
Yes it is possible to formulate a twisted philosophy that includes both, but they (school administrators) haven’t reached that lofty level. Perhaps you should explain it to them.
Besides, the evolutionary theory that is taught and tested on the regents’ exam clearly touts evolution as the result of accident and denial of creation. (The regents haven’t reached your lofty heights either)
Just the same, in one yeshiva I have knowledge of years ago, though evolution wasn’t taught, students were not forbidden to answer those questions if they knew the answer.
Often they did know from having studied regents review books.
done and out of this.