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A Canonical Evolution Kerfuffle

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By DANIEL RUTH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

It is altogether possible that by the end of the day, Florida once again could be held up to the rest of the nation as more backward than Dogpatch, making even Mississippi look like a golden age of Enlightenment.

Florida's Board of Education, a title treaded upon very cautiously here, is set to vote on adopting new science standards for public schools.

But what should have been a relative no-brainer for the board to rationally acknowledge that evolution is the scientific cornerstone when it comes to the study of biology and its extended disciplines, instead has become a canonical kerfuffle among various Bible thumper groups who want to treat Charles Darwin's research with all the legitimacy of a race track tout sheet.

This is 2008. Isn't it? Sigh.

Leading the charge against, well reality, is the Florida Family Policy Council, which has been heavily lobbying the Board of EDUCATION not to permit the teaching of evolution as scientific fact.

Merely A Theory

Recently, the Florida Family Policy Council and its head vicar John Stemberger argued there was no factual basis to support evolution, insisting Darwin's work be explored in classrooms as merely a "theory" on the origin of Man, along with other concepts.

By any coherent, established measure, evolution is the settled science of biology among the Bunsen burner, microscope, test tube crowd - otherwise known as the grown-up eggheads in the room who know about this stuff.

You don't need to be a political scientist to figure out the agenda of the Stembergerians is to eventually supplant teaching real science like evolution with the Fundamentalist theology-based study of creationism, which is often presented under the guise of "intelligent design."

Or put another way, Stemberger and his ilk would eventually want to do away with evolution and replace it - in science classes - with intelligent design, the notion that a wizard in the sky created the universe. God help us.

Planet Zolton 7

Is it any wonder the United States runs the risk of being surpassed by Burkina Faso, the Bermuda Triangle and the Planet Zolton 7 when it comes to science instruction?

The solution to the evangelical concerns is obvious.

If Stemberger and his disciples want to teach alternative stories to evolution, the introduction of a comparative religion course in schools would be an ideal way to discuss a wide variety of notions about how cultures around the world view the Deity.

At the same time, if the Florida Family Policy Council is so exorcised over young students being taught established science, there are many alternatives available to the kiddos.

Across Florida there is no shortage of Christian, faith-based schools more than delighted to impose their beliefs about creationism and/or intelligent design.

And isn't that the miracle of school choice? The opportunity to be as right or wrong as you want? But that's only a theory.

Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog.

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