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Actor Stein Plays Role In Debate On Evolution Education
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Published: March 13, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Hollywood lent some of its glitz Wednesday to the debate over teaching evolution in Florida, where a bill has lawmakers questioning the very meanings of science and freedom of speech.
Actor and writer Ben Stein joined conservative activists at the state Capitol for a news conference that dually promoted a controversial bill about teaching evolution and Stein's controversial documentary about educators who dare to dissent from Darwin- ism.
The "Academic Freedom Act" from Sen. Ronda Storms and Rep. Alan Hays would allow teachers to "objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution."
Even opponents have said that sounds good, on its face. But they fear that it will open the door to teaching intelligent design, a theory that suggests an "intelligent cause" is responsible for the creation and ordering of the universe.
"The presumption of this bill is that all you have to do to teach something in a science class is to call it science," Howard Simon, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. "Simply saying something is science does not make it so and calling Intelligent Design science, does not make is science."
It remains unclear whether the bill permits the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.
"The answer is no," said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council. "This does not allow the permitting of alternate theories to be taught. It only allows the criticism and the presenting of relevant, objective scientific evidence which criticizes chemical or biological evolution."
That would seem to settle the question. Yet moments later, Casey Luskin, an attorney for the Seattle-based Discovery Institute said that even as he agreed with Stemberger, he personally considers intelligent design to be "scientific information."
All of which raises questions about what qualifies as "science" - and who, ultimately, decides.
Stein Says It's Intellectual Freedom
The Academic Freedom Act responds to the state's new science standards for public schools, which explicitly require the teaching of the theory of evolution.
Stein, who supports the bill, said it is not about teaching any particular viewpoint. "It's about freedom of speech," he said. "Freedom of inquiry, it's nothing more complicated than that."
The actor, and former speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, is preparing to release "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," his documentary about scientists and educators who have paid a price professionally for challenging natural selection and other premises of Darwinian evolution.
Some have been denied jobs or tenure; others cannot get their articles published, and many have been subject of ridicule, he said.
"Feel free to watch this film if you must, and I hope you do," Stein-as-narrator warns in the extended trailer for "Expelled" that he showed to reporters Wednesday. "But you've got to know that doing so could land you in a heap of trouble."
But Stein and the film's other makers refused to grant the media entry to a screening of the film for lawmakers Wednesday night.
The film's producers said that decision was made because of the current rough form of the film, which they are completing for release to all audiences April 18, but the exclusive screening only fueled attacks from the skeptics.
"We are deeply concerned that, however many legislators show up, they will be spoon-fed this material and mostly no one from the public will be there to see what goes on," said Brandon Haught, spokesman for Florida Citizens for Science.
Who Decides?
A Republican dentist from Umatilla, Hays said Wednesday that "we owe it to our teachers to prevent them from undue harassment, undue penalties and any other type of ostracism that might be coming their way."
Dissenting teachers in Texas, Minnesota and Washington have experienced exactly that, Luskin said.
Storms, R-Brandon, stressed the very language of the bill, which "shall not be construed to promote religious doctrine."
Asked whether intelligent design qualifies as "scientific," Storms was more circumspect. Anything that "legitimately provides for a scientific critique of the theory of evolution" should be permitted for discussion, she said.
The ambiguity concerns Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz. "I don't want that rubric to become a subterfuge for teaching faith-based lessons, which really belong in Sunday School."
He suggested that Storms and Hays amend their bill to include a review process for the "scientific information" that teachers want to introduce in class concerning evolution.
"It's an academic freedom act," Storms said when asked about the idea. "A science teacher is legitimately able to say, this is the range of scientific debate."
Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( gojisteve ) on March 13, 2008 at 1:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
you dummies who voted for her asked for this, another mind boggling going to change the world bill from ms irrelevant
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Posted by ( scottybcoder ) on March 13, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The Formula: n + (n * (n-1)) + (n * (n-2)) ... repeating until (n-x) = 0
Using the formula, we see that there are approximately 250 trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion ways to arrange the four nitrogen-containing bases found in the DNA double helix structure.
This huge number and carbon-dating of our oldest rocks, we immediately see that the earth hasn't been around long enough for DNA to accidentally get arranged into humans.
While the Jews, Christians, Muslims and others are not correct in their religious theories, it is pretty clear that Darwin wasn't totally correct either.
The math says that there is an intelligent creator out there somewhere! Neither religious fanatics nor scientists can argue with the math.
Let's quit muddying the kids minds with bullhockey and go ahead and teach them the math please.
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Posted by ( jdubs101 ) on March 13, 2008 at 3:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Teach them gorilla math that claims to prove the existence of a higher power? I dare say this would not help clarify things for grade school children or anyone for that matter. Please return to Mars now. Please. Now.
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on March 13, 2008 at 4:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This really is getting rediculous. What the heck does it take to shut Rhonda Storm up??? It appears that as long as she can manage to get reelected she will keep pushing the same tired old agenda no matter how many times it gets voted down. This is wasting taxpayer's money and the government's time and making the state of Florida a laughing stock across the country. Its bad enough we can't figure out how to vote down here, now we're enlisting the help of a humorist to explain the religeos theories of some old broad who can't take no for an answer. Ms. Storm I resent your lying to the public by calling your bill an "Academic Freedom Act" when your sole purpose in life seems to be forcing the general public to believe your antiquated religeous bull. You really need to get a life and get out of politics. You are not cleaver enough to be a politician, smart enough to be a scientist, broadminded enough to be a public figure, or charming enough to be considered trendy.
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Posted by ( NEDLY ) on March 13, 2008 at 5:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Rhonda Stroms must go and stop wasting our money. It only takes votes for this. Please vote against her.
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Posted by ( dungusmin ) on March 13, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
scottybcoder has called it correctly, denying it will only make things worse; in the End, much, much worse.
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Posted by ( Shauna ) on March 13, 2008 at 6:07 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Bonsai ) on March 13, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I cannot believe the stuff coming out of the mouth of a woman who looks like an over-the-hill hooker. Storms needs to go!
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Posted by ( MikeF ) on March 13, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
That was a total insult to hookers everywhere. ;-)
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Posted by ( Ariel ) on March 13, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
For an incisive review of Ben Stein's disinformation piece, see "Is Ben Stein the new face of Creationism?" by Roger Moore, Feb. 1, 2008, in the Orlando Sentinel. (Link is too long to fit here.)
Blatant disinformation and propaganda. But what else can we expect from the right?
But let's look at the bill. If it really doesn't allow advocating religion, then a teacher can freely rip apart all the Biblical explanations as nothing but fairy tales--along with the rest of the Bible.
I'm sure Rhonda will rush to the defense of any such teacher. Right, Rhonda?
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Posted by ( ozzythewarrior ) on March 13, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Keep Religion out of schools and evolution out of schools.Theres way to much science that can be taught in school without getting into how we got here.Teach it in college
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Posted by ( island ) on March 13, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
" That was a total insult to hookers everywhere. ;-) "
ZING!...lol... you're too kind, Mike... ;)
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Posted by ( GONASA ) on March 13, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He worked for Nixon and Ford...doesn't that just about sum up his qualifications?
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Posted by ( island ) on March 13, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, at least the comments make clear that this is about the integrity of science, and isn't about the culture war... (can the see my eyes rolling?).
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Posted by ( dogworld ) on March 13, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ben Stein is an actor the way military justice is justice.
He must have dry brain. He still feels Nixon was a sainted man.
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Posted by ( dbracht ) on March 13, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
<i>Posted by ( Ariel ) on March 13, 2008 at 9:46 a.m.
For an incisive review of Ben Stein's disinformation piece, see "Is Ben Stein the new face of Creationism?" by Roger Moore, Feb. 1, 2008, in the Orlando Sentinel.</i> Here is the
<a href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2008/02/is-ben-stein-th.html"LINK<a/>to that.
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Posted by ( dbracht ) on March 13, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Aargh, what's up with using HTML code here? Try this for the link.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2008/02/is-ben-stein-th.html
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Posted by ( abb3w ) on March 15, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ozzythewarrior: You should review your own state's science standards (available at the fldoestem.org website).
"BIG IDEA 15: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms
A. The scientific theory of evolution is the organizing principle of life science.
B. The scientific theory of evolution is supported by multiple forms of evidence.
C. Natural Selection is a primary mechanism leading to change over time in organisms."
If you want to remove Biology entirely from science education at the high school level, I suppose one might justify that... but it would be hard when the state seeks to become a magnet for Biotech companies. Or do you plan for immigrants to take all those jobs?
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Posted by ( takeapill ) on March 18, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I try to be tolerant of all the evolutionists whining and crying all the time about religion, ID and science. Get a life and quit trying to push garbage at American's, who don't want to hear it. Go take a relax pill or something... If evolution is so solid, it doesn't need your whining and crying, it should be able to stand on its own.
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Posted by ( abb3w ) on March 22, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
takeapill: see Proverbs 22:6, old chap
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