Posted on 01/09/2008 11:37:26 AM PST by King of Florida
To hear some Floridians tell it Tuesday night, introducing the word ''evolution'' into state science-education standards would be a needed step into the 21st century.
Others at a meeting at Everglades High School in Miramar urged state education officials to give other theories of the origin of life equal space -- and let students decide what to believe.
''We don't teach science in Sunday school,'' said Ken Loukinen, president of the Atheists of Broward County. ``Please don't teach religion in science class.''
The public forum -- the fourth statewide and only one in South Florida -- was the last before the state Board of Education votes on new science standards Feb. 19. Approximately 80 people attended the meeting Tuesday night, with about 30 signing up to speak.
In the past few months, thousands have commented on the proposed standards on a state website, which is now closed to public remarks, and hundreds have turned out at meetings throughout Florida.
The proposed standards contain instructions on how evolution should be taught, beginning in kindergarten. The draft declares: ``Evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology and is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence.''
Current state standards, approved in 1996, refer to ''biological change over time'' -- a description of evolution -- but contain no mention of the word itself.
Debate in Florida echoes that in Texas, which is preparing a similar revision of its science-education standards. And it also reflects a nationwide split: A Gallup Poll in June showed that 53 percent of Americans questioned believe in evolution, while 44 percent do not.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
I for one can't even believe this issue was being debated at a high school near to me. I think I'll go to the barber for a haircut and some bloodletting.
Equal time for the stork delivery theory and the found under a leaf in the cabbage patch alternative science .
“evolution should be taught, beginning in kindergarten”
Why? What are kindergarteners going to do with the theory?
Honestly, what other "theory" is there to teach. ID isn't a teachable theory, its a tellable one. I can teach it in less than 1 minute.
So what then, various creation stories? Like Gilgamesh? Dogon? Odin and Ymir?
Good point, but what is anyone going to do with the theory?
In order to properly brainwash folks, it's important to start them off young.
I heard a great joke the other day: I humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?
Don’t forget about the leeches. I hear crystals are useful for some conditions, also.
Don’t forget the magnets, and ozone therapy, and coffee enemas.
Since the purpose of children is to annoy the teacher, the teacher can better understand where they're coming from. The students in turn, will be encouraged by their ancestral heritage.
Right. Thanks for the reminder. I want to be fully equipped. ;)
Been a long time since you had a haircut hasn't it? Bloodletting went out a while back.
There is more to be done with the knowledge of WHEN life begins vs. HOW life began.
But when it comes to WHEN life begins, the argument is that a fetus isn’t human because it doesn’t have a soul yet. This isn’t the viewpoint of the “religious”, it is the viewpoint of those trying to sell abortion TO the religious.
You have got to love a site that preserves the use of great words in the language like “pernicious “.
Of course, it's like astronomy. Why bother with attempting to know and understand the world.
I wish there was as much determination to teach the Constitution as there is to teach Evolution.
That would account for the taste of the coffee at work .
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