"johac" <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jhachmann-2E75DE.01153519012008@news.giganews.com...

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a scientific
theory is and isn't.

---
School Board votes: evolution is just a theory.


By MARY MARAGHY, My Clay Sun

Despite impassioned opposition from science experts, teachers and some
clergy, Clay County School Board members unanimously resolved Tuesday
night that evolution should be presented as a theory, and not fact, in
the classroom.

The board passed a resolution, proposed by Superintendent David Owens,
asking the Florida Department of Education to reword its newly proposed
state standards, which presents evolution as "the fundamental concept
underlying all of biology and is supported in multiple forms of
scientific evidence."

Baker County approved a similar resolution Dec. 17.

"It's not like we're asking for permission to teach creationism or any
of those things. What we're saying is let's not be so dogmatic in our
approach," said Owens, who said it meets the needs of Clay County.

School Board attorney Bruce Bickner said evolution will continue to be
taught and the resolution has no bearing on what is taught or what will
be taught. It's just semantics, he said.

Objectors in the audience said the action squashed a major leap forward
in science with far-reaching effects.

"Evolution is widely accepted in the science community as factual.
Science education should reflect scientific consensus," said Paula
Horvath-Niemeyer, a Keystone Heights parent of two teens and a
University of North Florida faculty member.

"I'm extremely disappointed," said Linda Crawford, who said the action
will make Clay County known for its objection to excellence in science
education.

Chairwoman Carol Studdard said she felt many speakers didn't understand
the issue.

Board members Carol Vallencourt and Charles Van Zant said they doubt the
resolution will sway the Florida Department of Education to change the
wording.

"We're beating a dead horse deader," Van Zant said.

Though he voted for the resolution, board member Wayne Bolla said he
didn't think there is a difference in the word concept and theory.

Ridgeview High School teacher David Campbell, who helped create the
standards, said the process took eight months of work and the standards
reviewed by hordes of experts and a Nobel Prize winner.

"This resolution is seriously flawed and circulated by someone who
doesn't understand science," he said. "The language says concept - a
general principle, not fact. The word fact isn't there. The word fact
was carefully avoided. We put the best science possible in the
standards."

Flagler College student Kristine Hoppenworth of Middleburg was in tears
after the vote.

"They weren't clear on what they were voting about," she said. "They are
not listening to the public, not listening to the experts. I think it is
reducing the study of science to school board politics."

---
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011908/nec_237672883.shtml
--
John #1782

I wonder if any members of that Clay County (FL) school board would have a
problem handing each of their students -- and I mean *every* one of their
students -- to read the main offering from the following site as a homework
assignment: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11876

and then read the book *themselves*?

Greywolf

On Jan 19, 1:15 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a scientific
theory is and isn't.

---
School Board votes: evolution is just a theory.

By MARY MARAGHY, My Clay Sun

Despite impassioned opposition from science experts, teachers and some
clergy, Clay County School Board members unanimously resolved Tuesday
night that evolution should be presented as a theory, and not fact, in
the classroom.

They'll all end up looking for new jobs, if recent history is any
indication

Tammy Kitzmiller, et al. v. Dover Area School District, et al., Case
No. 04cv2688, was the first direct challenge brought in the United
States federal courts against a public school district that required
the presentation of "Intelligent Design" as an alternative to
evolution as an "explanation of the origin of life
The eight Dover school board members who voted for the intelligent
design requirement were all defeated in a November 8, 2005 election by
challengers who opposed the teaching of intelligent design in a
science class, and the current school board president stated that the
board does not intend to appeal the ruling.[

BUT.....Look on the bright side........for the students, their
"education" will be sooooo much easier
The only anwer they need on their tests will be: "God did it!"

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:15:36 -0800, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a scientific
theory is and isn't.

---

<snip>

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011908/nec_237672883.shtml

I wonder if Clay County schools have a music curriculum. After all,
music theory is just a theory. Teach the alternatives! Teach the
controversy! Do Clay County schools have a physics curriculum? After
all, gravity is just a theory! Teach the alternatives! Teach the
controversy!

johac wrote:

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a
scientific theory is and isn't.

<snip>

Perhaps one of their ministers did...
Here is a definition as given by Bible Bob
"A theory is a guess, speculation, abstract thought, a guess based on
some facts; but then facts are not truth so it is all about theory."

johac wrote:

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a scientific
theory is and isn't.

---
School Board votes: evolution is just a theory.
...

School Board attorney Bruce Bickner said evolution will continue to be
taught and the resolution has no bearing on what is taught or what will
be taught. It's just semantics, he said.

What a crock. It's the typical wedge theory (or concept) in action.
Change the words, leave a gap for use in a few years when it's pointed
out that the state doesn't recognize evolution as science, and attempt
to add creationism to the schools.

Though he voted for the resolution, board member Wayne Bolla said he
didn't think there is a difference in the word concept and theory.

They do seem proud of their ignorance. Would they tell a cooking school
to replace "fry" with "sauté" in all of its books? After all, as far as
the non-cook is concerned, they're both ways of cooking food in liquid.

johac wrote:

What did you expect in a state that elected Jeb Bush for governor?
Certainly the courts must overturn this.

Someone also needs to explain to the school board just what a scientific
theory is and isn't.

---
School Board votes: evolution is just a theory.
...

School Board attorney Bruce Bickner said evolution will continue to be
taught and the resolution has no bearing on what is taught or what will
be taught. It's just semantics, he said.

What a crock. It's the typical wedge theory (or concept) in action.
Change the words, leave a gap for use in a few years when it's pointed
out that the state doesn't recognize evolution as science, and attempt
to add creationism to the schools.

Though he voted for the resolution, board member Wayne Bolla said he
didn't think there is a difference in the word concept and theory.

They do seem proud of their ignorance. Would they tell a cooking school
to replace "fry" with "sauté" in all of its books? After all, as far as
the non-cook is concerned, they're both ways of cooking food in liquid.