Good grief, Alachua!

We learned earlier that some candidates for various Alachua County school board seats had no problem with teaching creationism in the public schools. However, that article was unclear who exactly thought what. A Gainesville Sun article today gives us a much clearer picture. Wow … just wow.

Bonnie Burgess:
“To me, it seems only logical to offer creationism. What’s the point of teaching? It’s to teach our children how to think and we should not be prejudiced to any one thought or idea. We should be able to offer all facts and theories.”

April Griffin:
“I do believe we should teach creationism as part of a well-balanced education that opens their minds to free-thinking.”

Felicia Moss:
“In a well-balanced education, we need to have those things, as well, and leave it up to the parents to expound on it.”

Rick Nesbitt:
“I am absolutely opposed to teaching creationism as science in our schools. Possibly in a philosophy course, that would be fine. I would absolutely safeguard the separation of church and state.”

David Palpant:
Creationism does have a place in public schools. “Explain it in a class that teaches all religions. Teach it all and let them make up their minds. They can make an informed decision if they’re informed.”

Wayne Gabb:
It could be taught in high schools. “This is something that could be brought up. My job is to present them with all options out there and let them make up their minds.”

Jodi Wood:
“So long as we are teaching the theory of evolution, we should teach the other theory of creationism, too. Evolution is not a fact, it is a theory.”

Gunnar Paulson:
“I’m opposed to teaching creationism in public schools.”

Jennifer Deachin:
She is opposed to teaching it as science, but in favor of teaching it as part of a religion course. “I think everything should be taught. I’m open to ideas and to presenting information to children, as it is to adults. You should teach everything and they should deduct their own thinking, their own reasoning because, wow, they’re capable of doing that.”

Carol Oyenarte:
“I believe in the separation of church and state.”

Christopher Smiley:
If it is taught in schools, it should be in a historical context. “They don’t want to see it put alongside the hard-core theories of atheism and theism. They want to see it put alongside evolution.”

Jancie Vinson (represented by Rev. Milford Griner):
“Jancie grew up in the church, but she’s always had a high respect for the separation of church and state. She would not favor teaching creationism. It’s the parents’ responsibility to teach them.”

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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8 Responses to Good grief, Alachua!

  1. Stacy says:

    Well, it looks as though there are a couple of reasonable people.

  2. IVORYGIRL says:

    Jodi Wood:
    “So long as we are teaching the theory of evolution, we should teach the other theory of creationism, too. Evolution is not a fact, it is a theory.”

    Agggggggh evolution is just a theory, ergo creationism is just a theory?
    Perhaps Jodi Woods should inform the Southern Baptist Association that she considers the Genesis story of creation “just a theory”

  3. kmlisle says:

    Just early voted in Alachua County and the three above that defended separation of church and state got my votes! 😉 Thanks to Phyllis for arranging that forum at Oak Hammock and making sure that question was asked! What would be even more interesting would be to ask the existing board that same question.

  4. Pierce R. Butler says:

    David Palpant – for three (3) bonus points: define “redundancy”.

    Jennifer Deachin – for five (5) bonus points: define “deduct”.

  5. Makita says:

    I suppose that Jodi Wood doesn’t realize that with that statement she’s advocating not teaching science at all. Science class ought not to teach *anything* as a fact. There are no absolute facts in science as there are in mathematics. But I guess that’s way too complicated for Jodi Wood.

  6. Chris Smiley says:

    Hi this is Candidate Chris Smiley. My words were jumbled by the reporter and i got a few emails from people asking what i meant. I hope my message was still discernible- no creationism in schools. The Sun always uses poor quotes or misquotes and that leaves me more work to get my ideas out.

  7. Pierce R. Butler says:

    The good news is that pro-science candidate Gunnar Paulson picked up a clean win on 8/24.

    The other two school district races went into run-off, which means they’ll be decided in November along with the general election. More good news: the District 5 finalists are Jancie Vinson & Carol Oyenarte, both of whom seem to be members of the reality-based community.

    More problematic is the District 1 runoff between Rick Nesbit and April Griffin. Nesbit is the white hat here, but he only garnered 32.7%, while Griffin won 39.1% and the other pro-creationists took 28.3%.

  8. Brandon Haught says:

    Thanks for the update Pierce. I appreciate it.

Comments are closed.