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Stand Strong On Science Standards To Make Florida Kids Competitive

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

Science classes in Florida public schools are among the weakest in the nation, despite taxpayer-funded initiatives to make the state a major hub for biotech and bioscience.

Two years ago, the prestigious Fordham Institute gave Florida a big, fat "F" for its lousy science curriculum. And managers in high-tech fields continue to complain about the caliber of the workforce produced by our schools.

You would think that as the Florida Board of Education prepares today to discuss new science standards, improving students' mastery of science would be foremost in people's mind.

But all the discussion is focused on "intelligent design," a belief that a higher being must be involved in the universe since science cannot explain everything. At least nine Florida school boards have passed resolutions opposing the much-improved science standards because they don't include the teaching of intelligent design, another term for creationism.

Instead, the state's proposed standards focus on evolution, as they should. Evolution is a scientific theory built on data, not faith, and it has withstood the test of time.

No wonder our educational system is mediocre at best. Florida can't keep its eye on the ball.

In making its decision today, the board of education should remember its core purpose - to ensure a quality public education for Florida's children, not to kowtow to people who want religious faith taught as fact in science class.

The proposed science standards were drafted and reviewed by leading scientific minds and top-level science teachers. They offer a better organized, more rigorous schedule for laying out the big ideas of science, starting with the five senses in kindergarten, and ending with ecology, cell function, physics, anatomy and astronomy in high school.

With Florida graduates trailing the nation in scientific achievement, the Board of Education should stand strong today and create a rigorous, world-class science curriculum.

Anything less would be academic de-evolution.

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