An employee at the Florida Department of Education sent out an e-mail from her personal account to several people in an attempt to rally them to oppose the new draft of the state science standards because of the way evolution is now included. (Browse through previous posts on this blog for background on this hot issue.)<\/p>\n
Here are the first two paragraphs of that e-mail. There are all sorts of problems with what she has to say, but can you spot the one thing that would make a newspaper reporter want to do a story?<\/p>\n
My name is Charlie Carraway and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a member of Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church, Sopchoppy , Florida , but I also work for the Florida Department of Education as the Director of the Office of Instructional Materials. That means I oversee the adoption process in the state, and I work in close proximity to the folks in the Office of Mathematics and Science, who have been in charge of the revision of the science standards. I say all of this, obviously, to give this e-mail credibility, so that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll continue to read and pass on the information I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sharing with you.<\/p>\n
A lot of people don’t understand \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why all the fuss about the new science standards,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d so I thought I would try to give more background information. The science standards that are in place now do not include the word Evolution anywhere. In fact, they are ambiguous enough that the districts and schools in Florida have been able to teach evolution as a theory along With other theories. In addition to that, if these new standards are adopted, the new instructional materials adopted and placed in our schools will be aligned to these standards, which means that our new materials will explicitly teach evolution \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and not as a theory!!!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If you guessed that it’s because she is using her position to promote a personal view, then you are right! Here’s the newspaper article in the St. Petersburg Times<\/a> about Ms. Carraway.<\/p>\n
“It is inappropriate for any department employee to use their public position to advocate their personal positions,” department spokesman Tom Butler said Friday. “Ms. Carraway has been counseled.”<\/p>\n
That means human resources personnel met with Carraway and warned her not to do this again, but she remains on the job.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The reporter goes on to mention an issue in Texas where a state Education Agency’s director of science was forced to resign for forwarding an e-mail about a talk being given concerning evolution and creationism. These two e-mail incidents are hardly similar, contrary to what the reporter claims. (Here’s a New York Times article<\/a> on the Texas matter.) In Texas, the issue was taken to an extreme by the Education Agency, resulting in a professional losing her job for essentially doing her job: supporting science. Here in Florida, Carraway was only reprimanded, which was the appropriate reaction in this case. And Carraway obviously hasn’t a clue what she is talking about, which is painfully evident in her writing. “… which means that our new materials will explicitly teach evolution \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and not as a theory!!!” Yes, Ms. Carraway, evolution will be taught as an established scientific theory, but you apparently don’t have any idea what that really means. Here’s a definition that might help you out:<\/p>\n
“In everyday use, the word “theory” often means an untested hunch, or a guess without supporting evidence. But for scientists, a theory has nearly the opposite meaning. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts. The theory of gravitation, for instance, explains why apples fall from trees and astronauts float in space. Similarly, the theory of evolution explains why so many plants and animals–some very similar and some very different–exist on Earth now and in the past, as revealed by the fossil record.”<\/p>\n
— American Museum of Natural History website<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There is something very important to mention here: Ms. Carraway is very likely not the only person in the Florida Department of Education trying to undermine science education. Perhaps the St. Petersburg Times or some other newspaper will follow up on this to see “how deep the rabbit-hole goes.”<\/p>\n
Florida Citizens for Science has the entire text of Ms. Carraway’s e-mail. You can view it on the continuation page.<\/p>\n
What follows is the text of Charlie Carraway that got her into a bit of hot water. The e-mail mentions that there are some underlines, but the version FCS obtained was in plain text mode, so the underlines and any other such markings are missing.<\/p>\n
My name is Charlie Carraway and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a member of Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church, Sopchoppy , Florida , but I also work for the Florida Department of Education as the Director of the Office of Instructional Materials. That means I oversee the adoption process in the state, and I work in close proximity to the folks in the Office of Mathematics and Science, who have been in charge of the revision of the science standards. I say all of this, obviously, to give this e-mail credibility, so that you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll continue to read and pass on the information I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sharing with you.<\/p>\n
A lot of people don’t understand \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why all the fuss about the new science standards,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d so I thought I would try to give more background information. The science standards that are in place now do not include the word Evolution anywhere. In fact, they are ambiguous enough that the districts and schools in Florida have been able to teach evolution as a theory along With other theories. In addition to that, if these new standards are adopted, the new instructional materials adopted and placed in our schools will be aligned to these standards, which means that our new materials will explicitly teach evolution \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and not as a theory!!!<\/p>\n
For example, these are some of the science standards we have now: (the underlining is mine)<\/p>\n
At 9-12 the student knows various scientific theories on how the universe Was formed.<\/p>\n
At 9-12 the student knows that the structure of the universe is the result Of in teractions involving fundamental particles (matter) and basic forces (energy) and that evidence suggests that the universe contains all of the Matter and energy that ever existed.<\/p>\n
At 9-12 the student understands the mechanisms of change (e.G., mutation and natural selection) that lead to adaptations in a species and their ability to survive naturally in changing conditions and to increase species diversity.<\/p>\n
You must notice the difference between the above benchmarks and the new ones that are being proposed. First of all, under the proposed “Evolution and Diversity” Standard, there are three “Big Ideas.” They are:<\/p>\n
A. Evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology and is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence.
\nB. Organisms are classified based on their evolutionary history.
\nC. Natural selection is the primary mechanism leading to evolutionary change.<\/p>\nThen the teacher will be required to teach and the student will be required to learn the following benchmarks at 9-12:<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.1: Explain how evolution is demonstrated by the fossil record, extinction, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography, molecular biology (crosscuts with earth\/space), and observed evolutionary change.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.2: Discuss the use of molecular clocks to estimate how long ago various groups of organisms diverged evolutionarily from one another.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.3: Explain the reasons for changes in how organisms are classified.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.4: Compare and contrast organisms at kingdom level.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.5: Discuss distinguishing characteristics of major kingdoms, vertebrate phyla and classes taking typical examples.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.6: Describe how and why organisms are hierarchically classified and related with emphasis on the Linnaean system and cladistics.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.7: Express scientific explanations of the origin of life on Earth.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.8: Explain the role of reproductive isolation in the process of speciation.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.9: Identify basic trends in hominid evolution from early ancestors six million years ago to modern humans.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.10: Discuss specific fossils hominids and what they show about human evolution.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.11: List the conditions for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in a population and why these conditions are not likely to appear in nature. Use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to predict genotypes in a population
\nfrom observed phenotypes.<\/p>\nBenchmark SC.912.L.2.12: Describe the elements of natural selection, including overproduction of offspring, inherited variation, and the struggle to survive, resulting in differential reproductive success.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.13: Discuss other mechanisms of evolutionary change such as genetic drift, gene flow, founder effect.<\/p>\n
Benchmark SC.912.L.2.14: Discuss mutation and genetic recombination as sources of variation.<\/p>\n
Once these become adopted standards and benchmarks, FCAT assessment will be based on them. That means students will be held accountable to learn these benchmarks. Districts will not have a choice in teaching evolution as a theory, but will be expected to teach it as stated in these standards, big ideas, and benchmarks. Why? Why is this change necessary? Whose agenda is this and will the Christians in Florida care enough to do something about it?<\/p>\n
Not many people know about this, but there are actually public meetings being held in November so that people can come and give their input. The notice just came out, and I am pasting it in this e-mail. Please encourage interested parties to write the State Board members in the Department of Education and let them know how they feel about the change to these standards. The State Board will have the final say as to whether these standards are approved. I have listed their names and addresses at the end of this message.<\/p>\n
Here is the notice about the public input and meetings.<\/p>\n
Florida\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Proposed New Science Standards the draft Sunshine State Standards for Science are now available on
\nwww.flstandards.org for public review and comment. In the interest of ensuring that these standards are clear, concise, and accurate, the Florida Department of Education\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Office of Mathematics and Science invites you to
\nrate each of the benchmarks and provide valuable feedback to the writers. Public input will close on December 14.<\/p>\nInput concerning the proposed standards can also be provided during four public meetings scheduled to take place in November at the following locations:<\/p>\n
November 7, RA Gray Building, Tallahassee
\nNovember 15, Jones High School Auditorium, Orlando
\nNovember 20, Jefferson High School, Tampa
\nNovember 28, The Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership,
\nJacksonville<\/p>\nFor more information, please contact Todd Clark, Office of Mathematics and Science, at (850) 245-0764 or visit www.fldoestem.org.<\/p>\n
Florida\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s State Board of Education Members<\/p>\n
Mr. T. Willard Fair
\nChairman, State Board of Education
\nUrban League of Greater Miami, Inc.
\n8500 NW 25th Avenue
\nMiami , Florida 33147<\/p>\nMs. Donna Callaway
\nState Board of Education, Member
\n325 W. Gaines Street
\nTurlington Building, Suite 1514
\nTallahassee, FL 32399<\/p>\nDr. Akshay Desai
\nState Board of Education, Member
\nAmerican Family and Geriatric Care
\n150 2nd Avenue, North, Suite 400
\nSt. Petersburg, FL 33701-3340<\/p>\nMr. Roberto Martinez
\nState Board of Education, Member
\n255 Aragon Avenue
\nCoral Gables , Florida 33134<\/p>\nMrs. Phoebe Raulerson
\nState Board of Education, Member
\n325 W. Gaines Street
\nSuite 1514
\nTallahassee , FL 32399<\/p>\nMs. Kathleen Shanahan
\nState Board of Education, Member
\nWRS Infrastructure & Environment, Inc.
\n221 Hobbs Street, Suite 108
\nTampa , FL 33619<\/p>\nMrs. Linda Taylor
\nState Board of Education, Member
\n13451 McGregor Blvd., Suite 27
\nFort Myers, FL 33919<\/p>\nCommissioner Jeanine Blomberg
\nFlorida Department of Education, Office of the Commissioner
\n325 W. Gaines Street
\nSuite 1514
\nTallahassee , Florida 32399<\/p>\nPlease join me in keeping these standards from being approved and adopted by our State Board of Education at their December meeting. The least we can do is make sure evolution is presented to our children and grandchildren as a
\ntheory as it has been in the past. Hopefully, though, we can do better than that.<\/p>\nThank you,<\/p>\n
Charlie Carraway<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An employee at the Florida Department of Education sent out an e-mail from her personal account to several people in an attempt to rally them to oppose the new draft of the state science standards because of the way evolution … Continue reading