I have to admit to being shocked over how much intelligent design is cropping up in Florida school board races. I would think candidates would want to avoid that albatross what with all the times intelligent design has gone down in flames lately. Citrus, Escambia … and now Volusia county have it as an issue.
[James Brown] and [Stan] Schmidt also split over the idea of teaching “intelligent design” in public schools, an issue that’s expected to be discussed as part of an upcoming revision of state science standards. Supporters say the belief that biological life is so complex that it must have been designed by an intelligent source fills in gaps in the theory of evolution that’s already covered in science classes.
Brown believes public school students should be allowed to learn about intelligent design, as part of an elective course, in addition to learning about evolution. Schmidt thinks it’s inappropriate and divisive to teach intelligent design in public schools. Denys declined to comment, saying that’s a debate that belongs at the state level.
But wait, there’s more. That’s just one of the races in Volusia. Check out this other district race. You might want to swallow whatever you are drinking so that you don’t spray it all over your keyboard once you read the final quote.
The two candidates are clearly split when it comes to some larger education issues, such as whether “intelligent design”– the belief that biological life is so complex that it must have been designed by an intelligent source — should be taught alongside the theory of evolution in public schools.
That’s expected to be an issue as Florida revises its academic standards for science next year.
“I really don’t think intelligent design has a place in our curriculum,” [Diane] Smith said. “It’s more of a philosophical belief than something that can be proven through the scientific method.”
[Eugene] Stump has a different solution for defusing the controversial issue. “They took prayer out of school, let’s take evolution out of the school.”
