{"id":3278,"date":"2018-05-16T16:36:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-16T20:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3278"},"modified":"2018-05-16T16:36:35","modified_gmt":"2018-05-16T20:36:35","slug":"martin-county-complaints-present-the-case-both-for-and-against-the-theory-of-evolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3278","title":{"rendered":"Martin County complaints: “present the case both for and against the theory of evolution”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Martin County school district held an official hearing May 9 in response to several complaints about evolution in the science textbooks the district is considering adopting for the next school year. I am waiting to get a recording of the hearing but I did obtain from the school district via a public records request the complaints that were filed that sparked the need for a hearing. It’s easy to roll your eyes, dismiss, or simply ridicule what these people wrote, but because of the relatively new Florida law about instructional materials, school districts are forced to take these complaints seriously, appoint a hearing officer, and hear these folks out.<\/p>\n

Here are excerpts from the complaint forms:<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Sydney Gallogly<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Biology, Miller & Levine, Pearson<\/p>\n

To what do you object?<\/strong> The definition of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dctheory\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is not complete and accurate nor is evolution \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcconfirmed.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 The chapter is not balanced because there is nothing presented against the theory of evolution.<\/p>\n

What do you believe is the theme or purpose of this material?<\/strong> To teach the scientific basis for the beginning of all things.<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Students can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t develop critical thinking when only one view is taught as a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfact.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Have you read any critical reviews of this material? If so, what?<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDesign Flaw\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 by Norman Johnson; ‘Darwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Influence on Modern Thought\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Scientific American July 2000.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Either find an objective and balanced textbook or develop a supplemental curriculum that presents the case both for and against the theory of evolution.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Sydney Gallogly<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Elevate Science, Course 2, Pearson<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Confusion, lack of critical thinking skills developed, and a skewed perspective on such an important subject.<\/p>\n

Have you read any critical reviews of this material? If so, what?<\/strong> Sudden Origins by Jeffrey Schwartz, Genetic Perspective on the Origin and History of Humans, Takahata in Annual Review of Zoology and Systematics.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Either find a textbook that presents a balanced and objective teaching on the theory of evolution, or develop a supplemental curriculum that present the case both for and against the theory.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Nathan Joiner<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Biology, Miller & Levine, Pearson<\/p>\n

To what do you object?<\/strong> That evolution is being taught in a factual way.<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think critically.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Replace this textbook with one that doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t teach evolution in such a factual manner.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Joan Baldwin Hoffpauir<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Elevate Science, Course 2, Pearson<\/p>\n

To what do you object?<\/strong> The material in lesson 5 is presented as fact when this theory cannot be tested by scientific method. Since Darwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Theory is thoroughly explored, I feel it is best to explore all theories in an objective manner. Many qualified scientists do not believe the fossil record is solid enough to present it as a basis of fact.<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> A narrow view of the origins of life due to only being exposed to Darwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Theory.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Find or develop materials which teach all theories of the origins of life in an objective manner.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Al Robinson<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Elevate Science, Course 2, Pearson<\/p>\n

To what do you object?<\/strong> Explanations based only on evolution.<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Young minds will be influenced to believe that evolution is science and other explanations are invalid.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Develop a curriculum which presents the fact that evolution is theory and not fact, making room for other beliefs.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Al Robinson<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Biology, Miller & Levine, Pearson<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Most students will likely come away with the belief that evolution is the explanation of the history of life.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Develop a curriculum which presents both sides of the issue. Teach that evolution is a theory, not a fact and that there are other explanations.<\/p>\n

\n

Name:<\/strong> Brent Hoffpauir<\/p>\n

Textbook:<\/strong> Biology, Miller & Levine, Pearson<\/p>\n

To what do you object?<\/strong> Page 560: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Every scientific test has supported Darwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s basic ideas about evolution.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Preposterous at best.<\/p>\n

What do you believe is the theme or purpose of this material?<\/strong> To present a one sided view in order to limit other accepted views.<\/p>\n

What do you feel might be the result of a student using this material?<\/strong> Not developing critical thinking based on the whole truth, not just one sided viewpoint.<\/p>\n

Have you read any critical reviews of this material? If so, what?<\/strong> None. Was taught both sides when I went to high school. Should offer the same or better education, not lower class.<\/p>\n

What would you like the school or district to do about this material?<\/strong> Find or develop curriculum that presents an objective case both for and against evolution.<\/p>\n

\n

I’ll return with an update once I get a copy of the hearing recording.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Martin County school district held an official hearing May 9 in response to several complaints about evolution in the science textbooks the district is considering adopting for the next school year. I am waiting to get a recording of … 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":[26],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcZNLl-QS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3306,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3306","url_meta":{"origin":3278,"position":0},"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":3278,"position":1},"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":2997,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2997","url_meta":{"origin":3278,"position":2},"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":3312,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3312","url_meta":{"origin":3278,"position":3},"title":"Road trip to Collier County: Speaking up for science education","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"June 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I'll be on the road tomorrow morning (Monday) headed to Naples on a mission to help speak up for science education. I hope to see some of you folks there so we can finally meet in person. Why do science defenders need to converge on Collier County? Because a coordinated\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=3312#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2969,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2969","url_meta":{"origin":3278,"position":4},"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":2737,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=2737","url_meta":{"origin":3278,"position":5},"title":"Textbook battles: a glimpse into the future","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"May 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the most controversial issues in recent years when it comes to textbooks used in Florida schools is the coverage of religion in history books. The topic was the spark that started the whole instructional materials bills fiasco we're now facing. And the subject is obviously still white hot.\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3278"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3278"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3279,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3278\/revisions\/3279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}