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Storms' Evolution Bill Lets Teachers Contradict Theory
Tribune photo by COLIN HACKLEY
Sen. Ronda Storms discussed her proposal on Monday.
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Published: March 3, 2008
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TAMPA - TAMPA - TAMPA - Florida Sen. Ronda Storms, a Republican from Valrico, is taking on the theory of evolution.
On Friday she introduced an Academic Freedom Act designed to tweak the state's recently adopted educational standard that calls for science teachers to teach evolution.
Storms said the new bill merely says teachers should have the freedom to teach what they want, including theories that may contradict the prevalent theories of biological and chemical evolution. The bill does not mention creationism or intelligent design.
The basis of her bill came from activists who failed in February to persuade the state Board of Education to allow the leeway. The board voted 4-3 two weeks ago to explicitly require the teaching of evolution.
Storms' bill states that any curriculum presented to Florida's public school students about the origins of life must not be used to promote religious doctrine, even though evolution proponents derided previous similar proposals as religious indoctrination in the guise of scientific inquiry.
The bill, in part, says that if teachers wish to present a teaching plan that doesn't conform to state standards regarding chemical and biological evolution, they could be sanctioned and that the Legislature should adopt measures to protect them.
The bill says that "in many instances educators have experienced or feared discipline, discrimination, or other adverse consequences as a result of presenting the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution.
"Every public school teacher in the state's K-12 school system shall have the affirmative right and freedom to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or biological origins," Storms' bill states.
The proposed law is modeled after a bill that is has been introduced to legislatures in several states during the past four years.
Backers of teaching evolution say the instruction is needed to keep Florida's students on pace with others across the nation who are being taught about the theory's general support by conventional scientific circles as valid science based on empirical evidence.
According to the state Department of Education Web site, the revised standards were developed by a committee of educators, scientists, business leaders and school administrators who held lengthy discussions about the matter during the past year.
"As part of that process, more than 10,000 individuals provided more than 260,000 ratings and 20,000 comments via a Web-based system," the state's Web site says. "In addition, the Department of Education held five public hearings throughout the state (Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Miramar and two in Orlando) to collect public feedback on the standards."
Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.
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