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State Board To Qualify 'Evolution' With 'Theory Of'
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Published: February 19, 2008
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TALLAHASSEE -- The state Board of Education voted 4-3 to write the teaching of evolution into the state's standards for teaching science to K-12 students -- but qualified its vote by adopting a proposal to add the words "scientific theory of" before the word "evolution."
Opponents of the standards vowed to take their case to the Legislature this session, where they hope lawmakers will support their proposal to add what they called "academic freedom" language into the standard. That language would define evolution as follows:
"Evolution is [a] fundamental concept underlying all of biology and is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence and teachers should be permitted to engage students in a critical analysis of that evidence."
Terry Kemple of the Tampa Bay area, president and founder of the Community Issues Council, was at the hearing that preceded the vote. Kemple said about a half-dozen lawmakers have expressed some level of interest in proposing that or other changes to the science standards, but he declined to name names.
"It's grandstanding," said Brandon Naught, communications director of Florida Citizens for Science, a group that applauded the adoption of evolution into the science standard but had wanted the board to do so without adding "scientific theory" or any other qualifying language.
Such attempts have been made in other state legislatures, he said, "but so far none have ever passed."
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