First of all, if you are able to get away from work and head to Orlando, then please attend the final public forum concerning the new draft of the state science standards.
Monday, February 11, 2008
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Orlando Hyatt
Orlando International Airport
9000 Airport Boulevard
Orlando
You should be able to watch the meeting over the Internet via this link.
If you are new to this blog and don’t understand what the public meeting is about, take a moment to read this Orlando Sentinel article, which provides a good recap of events so far.
There were some Darwin Day activities around the state this past weekend. I hope to have a basic recap of what happened in Tallahassee up here on the blog tonight. Florida Citizens for Science president Joe Wolf was kind enough to write about what he saw. In the meantime, here’s an article in the Tampa Tribune about Darwin Day in general.
“Darwinism is the basis for biology because nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution,” Mushinsky says. “It is the thread that holds our science together.”
…
“Darwin’s ideas today, paradoxically, run in two different directions,” Giberson says. “Within the scientific community, they grow ever more relevant. But culturally, they grow less relevant as they continue to be rejected by conservative Christians. We now have presidents and congressmen who prefer 19th century creationism to 21st century science.”
Wish you could be there, Brandon. You’re a good talker. I’ll be there, and while I’m not much in the public speaking department, I’ll do my best to make the most of, and sound half-way intelligent during my three minutes.
Wish me luck.
ORANGE-YA-GLAD they had another public meeting?
I realize I am singing to the choir.
However, watching the webcast is so frustrating.
In the very beginning, it was pointed out that there was already one public hearing in Orlando.
This is the second one – and the only city that has had two.
Is it also the only one that is being held during the daytime – when working people (especially teachers) cannot attend?
Kim Kendall was the first to speak. She is considered to be the “head” person in the anti-evolution effort.
Perhaps Ms. Kendall was the first to “sign up” to speak?
Unlikely.
Why is this the only meeting that is being offered via webcast to both the Board and the Public?
Any comments?
Why would the Board have this meeting, and in this way?
I’m listening right now … Why do these people think that the scientific method is based on public opinion? … OMG! I just heard that someone has evidence for creation and that the “evilotionists” prevented it from coming out in the media! LOL! Well, at least it seems that they are defeating themselves.
I don’t remember where I heard this comment – but it applies to the comments made at this meeting –
” I wonder when teaching scientific theory became “Dogma” and when teaching “Creation” became “academic freedom” ?
I’m also tired of people saying that teaching evolution will lead to atheism – (that just pisses me off)
Commenting again 🙂 … Well, the first half of the meeting- as I perceived it -was heavily weighted with Opponents to the proposed standards – spotted with supporters – and the second half seems to be heavily weighted with Supporters of the new standards spotted with opponents.
Scientific theory became “dogma” and teaching creationism became “acedemic freedom” when the church’s marketing people got together. It is sad that so many Americans will simply parrot what they are told to say – rather than educating themselves. When one relies on others to tell them what to think, what to believe, and what to say, any opposing view must be very frightening. Thus, the fight and division. This is not just about the Science standards, or just about Florida… it is about the control of the American populous. Unfortunately, the trend is growing.