Florida Votes to Teach Evolution as Theory
The Florida State Board of Education voted on Tuesday to include the teaching of evolution in public schools, but only as "the scientific theory of evolution."
The compromise, which resulted from a two hour debate between religious conservatives and scientists, states that Charles Darwin’s proposal would be presented with a disclaimer stating that the theory has yet to be conclusively proven.
The word “evolution” appears in state science standards for the first time, but it is presented alongside a number of other ideas such as Einstein’s theory of relativity, while Isaac Newton’s law of gravity is taught as undisputed fact.
"To say there is no debate is ridiculous," said board member Phoebe Raulerson. "Then why are we here today?"
"I’m not saying it’s a fact or not a fact," she said of Darwin’s theory. "I’m saying that it is open to further discussion."
The issue of evolution in public schools has been met with similar debate in other states such as Kansas and Pennsylvania. Some religious groups claim that evolution goes against the Biblical account of creation, while others still say there is no conflict.
Proponents noted that the National Academy of Sciences approved the original language that said "Evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology."
"Why are we even considering this?" said board member Roberto Martinez, who voted against the measure.
School lessons are expected to bend to the new measure by next year, while standardized tests won’t witness the shift until 2012.
Evolutionists still say that the vote is a disappointment, but that it “would nonetheless boost the instruction of evolution as a basic tenet of modern biology,” Reuters reported.
"Sooner or later we’ll get there," Martinez said.
—
On the Net: