On Nov 28, 8:10 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Silliness in the Sunshine State.

---
Skewed Science: Florida School Board Mulls `Intelligent Design'

By Rob Boston Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 12:56:20 PM EST

The state of Florida, in an admirable attempt to lurch into the 21st
century, is considering adopting new science standards that actually
mention the word "evolution."

21st century??? It seems to me that they are just dipping a tentative
toe into the 20th!

On Nov 28, 8:10 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Silliness in the Sunshine State.

---
Skewed Science: Florida School Board Mulls `Intelligent Design'

By Rob Boston Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 12:56:20 PM EST

The state of Florida, in an admirable attempt to lurch into the 21st
century, is considering adopting new science standards that actually
mention the word "evolution."

21st century??? It seems to me that they are just dipping a tentative
toe into the 20th!

On Nov 28, 8:10 am, johac <jhachm...@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Silliness in the Sunshine State.

---
Skewed Science: Florida School Board Mulls `Intelligent Design'

By Rob Boston Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 12:56:20 PM EST

The state of Florida, in an admirable attempt to lurch into the 21st
century, is considering adopting new science standards that actually
mention the word "evolution."

21st century??? It seems to me that they are just dipping a tentative
toe into the 20th!

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:10:55 -0800, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Silliness in the Sunshine State.

---
Skewed Science: Florida School Board Mulls `Intelligent Design'

By Rob Boston Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 12:56:20 PM EST

The state of Florida, in an admirable attempt to lurch into the 21st
century, is considering adopting new science standards that actually
mention the word "evolution."

Current standards talk about "biological changes over time." The new
standards, if adopted in January, will promote evolution as one of
several key ideas in science that students need to learn.

Naturally the Religious Right is throwing a fit - and at least one local
school board is right there with them. The Lakeland Ledger reported
recently that if the new standards are adopted, members of the Polk
County School Board are ready to fight them.

Of the seven members on the board, five expressed support for teaching
"intelligent design," the latest variant of creationism.

Member Margaret Lofton said, "If it ever comes to the board for a vote,
I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the science
curriculum. If [evolution] is taught, I would want to balance it with
the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme being as
well."

Tim Harris added, "My tendency would be to have both sides shared with
students since neither side can be proven." Hazel Sellers chimed in: "I
don't have a conflict with intelligent design versus evolution. The two
go together."

These folks need to do some reading. I'm tempted to tell them to start
with On the Origin of Species, but I'll admit that can be an
intimidating place to begin. Instead, I'll give them an easier
assignment: 40 Days and 40 Nights by Matthew Chapman. It's a good
overview of the court case against intelligent design that was litigated
in part by Americans United for Separation of Church and State in 2005.
Members of the Polk County board should digest it fully before launching
a crusade on behalf of teaching religion in science class.

The Dover case has been dissected, analyzed and even recreated in a PBS
documentary. Its national implications have been debated. With all of
that talk, some tend to forget that back in Dover, the fallout was
pretty serious. Voters tossed out the school board that made the foolish
decision to pursue ID. The board ended up with a steep bill as well:
They had to shell out more than $1 million to pay plaintiffs' legal
fees. Many townspeople felt that their community had been made the focus
of unwanted attention.

Focus on the Family is already hectoring its supporters to besiege
Florida education officials with e-mails and calls demanding that the
new standards incorporate intelligent design. Of course, Focus on the
Family won't have to pay the legal bill if Polk County or any other
school board in the state follows this bum advice.

If you live in Florida and are concerned about quality science education
in our nation's fourth most populous state, perhaps you should be on the
phone as well.
---
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2007/11/27/125620/88

I think that only the certifiably insane are in charge of the US at
the moment.
And I am not alone.

johac wrote:

Of the seven members on the board, five expressed support for teaching
"intelligent design," the latest variant of creationism.

KKK: Kansas I, Kansas II, Kitzmiller? How far up their asses do these people
actually have their heads.

Member Margaret Lofton said, "If it ever comes to the board for a
vote, I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the
science curriculum. If [evolution] is taught, I would want to balance
it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme
being as well."

Tim Harris added, "My tendency would be to have both sides shared with
students since neither side can be proven." Hazel Sellers chimed in:
"I don't have a conflict with intelligent design versus evolution.
The two go together."

Here's hoping that there are some heroes in the science departments at these
schools like there were in Dover.

These folks need to do some reading. I'm tempted to tell them to start
with On the Origin of Species, but I'll admit that can be an
intimidating place to begin. Instead, I'll give them an easier
assignment: 40 Days and 40 Nights by Matthew Chapman.

Never heard of that. It's going on my Amazon wish list.

johac wrote:

Of the seven members on the board, five expressed support for teaching
"intelligent design," the latest variant of creationism.

KKK: Kansas I, Kansas II, Kitzmiller? How far up their asses do these people
actually have their heads.

Member Margaret Lofton said, "If it ever comes to the board for a
vote, I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the
science curriculum. If [evolution] is taught, I would want to balance
it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme
being as well."