{"id":2938,"date":"2017-11-09T19:25:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-10T00:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/?p=2938"},"modified":"2017-11-09T19:25:16","modified_gmt":"2017-11-10T00:25:16","slug":"nassau-county-complaint-stop-promoting-this-scientifically-inadequate-theory-of-evolution-as-fact-to-our-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2938","title":{"rendered":"Nassau County complaint: “stop promoting this scientifically inadequate theory of evolution as fact to our students”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Florida has a new law this year that allows any citizen, even if he or she doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a child in the school system, to challenge contents of instructional materials used in the local public schools. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like something you see in a textbook? File a complaint with your local school board and you may get your moment in the spotlight because the new law apparently requires that your complaint triggers a formal hearing complete with an appointed hearing officer. (See our long series of posts about the law at our Instructional Materials bills ’17 blog category.)<\/p>\n

That law is now heading out for a test drive in Nassau County. The school board there received a complaint from Mr. Jay W. Shutt last month. I obtained this request via public records request. All bolding and other formatting are his.<\/p>\n

\n

PETITION FOR ACTION TO<\/strong>
\nTHE NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

     My request to the Nassau County Board of Education is that we stop promoting this scientifically inadequate theory of evolution as fact to our students<\/strong>.  We should no longer purchase books teaching evolution as proven scientific fact or books that present evolution as proven fact.  Until the current books wear out, I propose placing a disclaimer sticker in the front of every textbook that promotes or presents evolution as proven fact.  The sticker could read something like the following:<\/p>\n

This book contains references or information about evolution leading the reader to believe that evolution is proven fact.  Those who believe in Creation Science would argue that evolution is impossible because<\/strong>:  (1) evolution cannot explain the chance formation of  the first  living cell capable of cell division. (2) evolution cannot explain the complexities of life such as the human genome having 3 billion base pairs and the human brain being  capable of more than 20 million billion calculations\/second. (3)evolution cannot explain the transfer of intelligence to genes.  For example, how does a pollen grain know when it is at the right place on  the right flower?  How does it know what to do next? And (4) evolution cannot explain the lack of transitional forms (missing links) in the fossil record.  There is not one<\/strong> “so called” missing link agreed upon by all highly qualified evolutionary scientists.<\/em><\/p>\n

If the Nassau County Board of Education decides to adopt these measures, there is a strong possibility of a threatened<\/strong> lawsuit by groups such as the ACLU.  However, if our lawyer along with a highly qualified molecular biologist (who believes in intelligent design) sit down with these groups and explain that they will need to come up with reasonable, scientific, evolutionary explanations for the serious flaws in their theory, I doubt they would dare a court challenge.<\/p>\n

The truth is that the extraordinary advances in microbiology and DNA knowledge have really eliminated evolution as a plausible explanation for life on planet earth.  As far back as 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson began mapping the human genome.  These men immediately became aware that the complexity of DNA far exceeded what evolutionary science could reasonably produce.<\/p>\n

Francis Crick, who was an atheist and a believer in evolution, changed his position to accepting that extra-terrestrials brought life to our world.  I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure if he later changed his beliefs, but he still needed to address the issue of “where did the alien DNA come from?”<\/p>\n

This is a second reason I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think the Board\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decision will actually be challenged in court.  The new scenario that life on earth was brought here by extraterrestrials is about ready to be publically promoted.  It has been programmed into our literature and our films for many years.  UFO sightings and alien encounters have been exploding exponentially for the last few years.  Even the Catholic Church has astronomers on Mt. Graham observatories in Arizona searching the skies for the arrival of our “space brothers.”
\nAll this is coming, and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think organizations who oppose Creation Science will risk a certain defeat in a court of law on the issue of evolution being taught as fact in our schools.  More than likely, they will do everything they can to keep the Board\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decision from making state or national news.<\/p>\n

The Board will probably postpone a final decision on this issue until a future date.  Maybe the Board would like to call in experts in the fields of evolution and molecular biology to gather more information.  However, I request that the Board set a timeline for whatever future measures it decides to take.  I make this request because, as human beings, we tend not to rush into areas which may cause us difficulties.  If timelines are not set, decisions may be put off almost indefinitely.   This issue is too important to allow unnecessary delays, and I hope the Board will elevate it to a high priority issue.  Thank you all for your time and consideration.<\/p>\n

Sincerely yours,
\nJay W. Shutt<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before the new instructional materials law, a request of this type could be dismissed with a polite “thank you for your time.” And that is the proper way to handle nonsense like Shutt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s letter. But no longer. The emails I received in response to my public records request indicate that a hearing was being arranged. An email to Mr. Shutt dated October 6 states:<\/p>\n

Mr. Shutt, In follow-up to our conversation and my email to you yesterday, please let me know some dates and times you’re available for a hearing so that I can get it coordinated.  Also, it would be helpful if you would provide me an estimate of the amount of time you believe that you will need to make your presentation.<\/p>\n

Thanks.
\nJ. Ray Poole
\nChief of Legal Services
\nNassau County School District<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m providing here links to the Word documents Shutt submitted: his request (EVOLUTIONARY PETITION FOR ACTION TO BOARD<\/a>) that I copied above and his summary of the errors found in some Nassau County textbooks(Evolution is an Unscientific Theory<\/a>). His summary starts with this:<\/p>\n

Since the late 1960\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, and even before that in secular colleges, the theory of evolution has been taught as proven scientific fact.  That is the case in the 3 Nassau County science textbooks (1 middle school and 2 high school) I read.   All 3 textbooks, and almost all science textbooks at any level, begin with a faulty definition of evolution.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I invite you to read his ridiculous summary, which ends with this call to action:<\/p>\n

We need to stop teaching a scientifically bankrupt theory which debases our self-worth and eliminates moral absolutes, as proven fact, to our children.  And we need to act as soon as possible!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It will be interesting to see how Nassau County handles this request. I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t imagine this actually impacting the textbooks there, but you never know. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in the process of following up my first public records request with additional requests for updates. I believe that the hearing was scheduled for early November, and so I need to find out what happened. <\/p>\n

This is merely the first challenge. I guarantee more are to come in other counties. And they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll likely be a bit more sophisticated than Mr. Shutts\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 outdated flailing.<\/p>\n

By the way, do you know what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going on in YOUR school district?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Florida has a new law this year that allows any citizen, even if he or she doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a child in the school system, to challenge contents of instructional materials used in the local public schools. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like something you … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[32,26],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcZNLl-Lo","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2997,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2997","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":0},"title":"Nassau County textbook challenge: “Bacteria to man evolution is not supported by science”","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"December 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Nassau County is the first school district I'm aware of that has been faced with a citizen's challenge to topics in the schools' science instructional materials. I told you about this back in early November (Nassau County complaint: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153stop promoting this scientifically inadequate theory of evolution as fact to our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Instructional Materials bills '17"","block_context":{"text":"Instructional Materials bills '17","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=32"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2969,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2969","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":1},"title":"Teaching that global warming is caused by human activity is “blatant indoctrination”","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"November 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Associated Press issued a story today about the new Instructional Materials bill approved by our Florida legislature and signed by our governor earlier this year:\u00c2\u00a0New Florida law expected to increase conflict over textbooks. Reporter Terry Spencer took on the massive task of asking every Florida school district for records\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Instructional Materials bills '17"","block_context":{"text":"Instructional Materials bills '17","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=32"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3020,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3020","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":2},"title":"Meanwhile, in Nassau County: “I thought evolution was a bunch of baloney”","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"December 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A Nassau County resident protested to the school board in November about evolution being taught in schools. He asked that the board approve the placement of disclaimer stickers in all textbooks that mention evolution. The school board made the right decision Thursday, voting unanimously against that idea. Even though the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Instructional Materials bills '17"","block_context":{"text":"Instructional Materials bills '17","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=32"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3306,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3306","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":3},"title":"Collier County textbook hearing: 30 complaints about evolution & climate change","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"June 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Heads up, folks. Collier County\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s official textbook hearing will be on Monday, June 18, and the public is invited to attend and be heard. Go to the instructional materials website where the guidelines for the meeting and the long list on citizen complaints against evolution and climate change being in\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3306#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3274,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3274","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":4},"title":"Press Release: Balancing Evolution & Creationism in Schools Unconstitutional","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"May 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Florida Citizens for Science News Release (May 13, 2018) --------------------------------------------- BALANCING EVOLUTION AND CREATIONISM IN SCHOOLS UNCONSTITUTIONAL Attempts to alter science textbooks in Collier, Martin and Nassau Counties are a waste of school boards\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 time, money and could lead to costly lawsuits --------------------------------------------- Contact: Brandon Haught \/\u00c2\u00a0bhaught@flascience.org \/ www.flascience.org Citizens\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2980,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2980","url_meta":{"origin":2938,"position":5},"title":"Evolution complaint in Palm Beach County … and other news","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"November 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"All of you really need to keep an eye on what's going on in within your home turf. 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