Why can’t he just stand up for science?

The St. Petersburg Times education blog tries to nail Jello to the wall. In other words, they interviewed new Florida education commissioner Eric J. Smith and tried to get him to commit to a stance on evolution and intelligent design. He simply wouldn’t do it. The blog says that he was a science teacher, but doesn’t specify what branch of science. A quick search on the Internet turns up little more than that he taught “math and science at what was then Union Park Junior High” in Orange County in 1972. So, there is no telling if he knows any biology.

Do you believe evolution should be taught in the science curriculum?

This decision will ultimately be made by the State Board of Education. The public input period for the web concluded on Friday and we have two public hearings set to take place in January. I’m going to reserve my opinions on the matter until all of that input has been received and I have had a chance to review it.

Does the state need to include other “alternatives” such as creation or intelligent design and let the students decide for themselves?

Again, I’m going to reserve my opinions on the matter until I am able to review public input and listen to what is said during the public hearings.

Good grief. You either think we should teach science or you don’t. Once again we have someone who seems to want to defer to public opinion rather than the actual experts in the subject.

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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