The Tampa Tribune has an article about the proposed creationism bill (“academic freedom act”) in the state legislature. There appear to be folks holding down forts on both sides of the fence on this issue.
A Senate committee chairman wants to hold a hearing on a proposal from Sen. Ronda Storms to allow public school teachers to contradict the theory of evolution in class.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, chairman of the PreK-12 Committee, said he hopes to schedule a hearing during the session on Storms’ evolution proposal. Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, confirmed Monday he will file the bill in the House.
But the plan faces plenty of resistance from lawmakers in both parties, who say they are loath to rewrite the teaching standards that the state Board of Education passed last month.
…
House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, told the Florida Baptist Witness newspaper last month that there may be enough votes in the House to pass the evolution bill. But Schools and Learning Council Chairman Joe Pickens, R-Palatka, said Monday he doubts that.
“The state Board of Education held public hearings; it’s their job to do what they did,” he said. “My expectation is that there isn’t a great deal of appetite to go in and undo what the state Board of Education did in their purview, under their authority.”
And the newspaper also did an editorial that slams this political goofiness.
Rubio further inflamed the situation by suggesting that this standard makes schools, not parents, responsible for a child’s upbringing.
Really, Mr. Speaker? We would suggest if parents’ years of influence are negated in a single science lesson, they probably didn’t make a big impression on their children.
…
If Florida lawmakers really want world-class curriculum, they’ll let education experts – not politicians – build them.
Calling this the “creationism bill” is like calling Republican party platform anti-gay (instead of anti-gay marriage). More spin from the left.
Walks like a duck – quacks like a duck – … must be a duck!
” Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time “
I propose the “attempt to sabotage science through government fiat by lending credence to pseudoscientific claims that are not supported by a shred of peer-reivewed research in the guise of academic freedom” bill.
Hmmm, a bit long.
Yeah, you’re right William. Ronda Stoms is simply worried about those poor little kiddies not being exposed to the wide range of scientific theories on the origin of species. She doesn’t want religious hypotheses like intelligent design taught in science class. Not at all. Only scientific theories like evolution…and…well…evolution.
I used to work in Hillsborough County. I’m very familiar with Ronda Storms. This is the same woman who censored books in the county libraries because she was afraid of gay and lesbian literature, took away funding from Planned Parenthood because in her words they are “pro-death”, etc. She’s so far to the right that even the Republican Party is forced to do damage control. She is known for being a very vile person to talk with in person, extremely insulting to anyone who doesn’t believe the way she does, even to her own party members.
The fact that she made it to state Senate surprises me.
Oh. I almost forgot about her remarks regarding minority law students: “We can get them through law school, but we can’t get them to seem to pass the Bar.”
http://www.sptimes.com/News/062900/news_pf/State/FAMU_remark_raises_ey.shtml
Yeah…
” “I am not apologizing for who I am,” Storms said. “I am apologizing for any offense (taken).” ” –
WTF?? …
Oh, she’s a beauty alright…
Well, I think creationists should take note, and should distance themselves from her if they want to be taken seriously… oh, wait, nevermind. 😉
Oh, bring it YEC! What better way to make sure that your entire agenda gets b*tch slapped so bad that everyone will turn their back on your cockamamie “science”?
word 🙂
I wish someone would propose an amendment to shield history teachers who teach the Holocaust as a “theory” rather than a fact.
Well, the only thing that could make this bill any more inane would be to tack on other “academic freedom” areas to this bill.
In chemistry, we should present alternate views about water and wine. After all, it must be possible to transmute one into the other, for a 3000 year old fable says so…
In physics, we should present alternate views about the surface tension of water. After all, Jesus could walk on water, so it must be possible.
In earth science, we should present alternate views about the earth’s revolution around its axis. After all, it is possible to extend a day to last more than 24 hours, at least according to one fable.
In biology, we should present alternate views about the concept of spontaneous generation. After all, manna turns into worms if saved on the wrong day, at least according to one fable.
In history class, we should present alternate views about any history that occurred in biblical times. After all, “historical” accounts in a religious text must be just as accurate as actual history — even if it contradicts itself, such as who was king when Jesus was born…
In mathematics, we should present alternate views regarding the exact value of pi. A certain book thumped by many claims that pi is 3.