Florida is the next creationism battleground...guess who is in charge.

[madfloridian]

Remember Florida legislator, Dennis Baxley, friend of Jeb? He is the one who is still trying to get the bill through that will stifle college professors whom he decides are "liberal." He is the one who pushed the "shoot first, ask questions later" bill in Florida. He was a sponsor of the Terri Schiavo bill here.

He is in charge of the House Education committee. He is eagerly looking forward to next year's review of science standards in the school system here.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/14/Opinion/Creationism_in_class.shtml

As Florida's science educators prepare for a political fight over creationism, they might want to tidy up their own classrooms first. At a conference in Orlando this month, some science teachers were the ones preaching intelligent design.

Marcia DeMeza, a 38-year national board-certified science teacher at Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland: "I guess you could say I'm a creationist. I always tell the students human beings are awesome to me. There has to be something that designed all this."

Tina Baker, a first-year teacher at Asbury Junior High in Clay County: "I tell them I believe in the big-bang theory, but that I believe God pushed the button."

The state science curriculum, rooted in the testable 146-year-old theory of evolution, does not confer upon teachers the right to offer such religious beliefs as though they are scientifically based. But clearly some do just that. Just as clearly, there are some politicians, and perhaps state educators, who are eager to see that practice spread.

This editorial points out that this atmosphere in our state does not show encouraging times for such a debate.

Next year, the state is scheduled for a routine review of science standards, and House Education Chairman Dennis Baxley calls it "a healthy time to have discussions of that nature." Education commissioner John Winn has refused to discuss the possibilities, other than to release a cryptic statement suggesting current standards "were written in a way that is neither inclusive nor exclusive to any one theory of human origin." Winn's new K-12 chancellor, Cheri Yecke, says she brings no agenda to change the curriculum but told a reporter she believes "God created heavens and the earth."

These are not encouraging signs. Eight decades after the Scopes "monkey" trial, Christian conservatives are still pushing to treat religion as though it were a competing scientific theory. A federal judge is expected to rule soon on a Dover, Pa., school policy that requires instruction in intelligent design. But Dover voters didn't wait for his ruling. In Tuesday's elections, they gave the boot to eight of the nine School Board members who want intelligent design taught in ninth-grade science classes.

And this last paragraph shows how far down the road to creationism we have already gone:

The educator in charge of Florida K-12 schools says she believes in creationism. President Bush says that "both sides ought to be properly taught." And some Florida science teachers are apparently doing so already.

[mrdmk]

1. The truth is that Jeb Bush lost a lot of political points with the

Terri Schiavo fiasco. He was the one pushing it hard and had public opinion turn against congress. A lot of common folk understood the fact that her brains were oatmeal and there was nothing that could have been done. Jeb Bush is playing to the ultra-right wing and it will get him nowhere. The man is a fool.

[Midnight Rambler]

4. I think just the fact that he's a Bush will hurt him plenty

Not that his role in the Schiavo circus will help. I think he stands a good chance of being viewed as W's Hillary.

[Bill McBlueState]

2. lots of people believe some god "pushed the button"

"I tell them I believe in the big-bang theory, but that I believe God pushed the button."

This is a common belief. It would be odd, in fact, for any of the 85% of the US population that calls itself Christian to believe that their god played no role in creation.

The question is whether such a belief can properly be considered part of a science curriculum. Heck, teachers can even talk about their religion if they want (although it's a poor use of class time to carry on about it at length), but just like their opinions about sports, their opinions about religion shouldn't be included on exams, homework, or lab activities.

[asjr]

3. This is very disturbing. A teacher is supposed to educate

our youth. A science teacher should teach science. There are churches, etc where religion is taught. It is a blatant attempt by propagandists to usurp the constitution of the US. I may be in the minority but the separation of church and state is one reason we do not have a dictatorship.

[LiberalPartisan]

5. You're not in the minority

It's just that the minority is better organized, highly focused, very vocal and extremely committed. Evangelical Christian theology hinges on the quaint notion that the Bible is 100% true so anything that counters that absurd notion must be corrected. It's akin to the Soviets airbrushing out of pictures the faces of people that fell out of favor.

So if science proves that 2 + 2 = 4 but the Bible says 2 + 2 = 13, well then dammit, that's what it is.

Evangelicult hypochristians are our homegrown Taliban.

[asjr]

7. The Intel Design is actually a creeping infection that

threatens to take over the entire school system. There may be no antibiotic to fight the infection.

[izzie]

6. Where are they on the list of education in states listing?

Or are they just padding their 'no child left behind' like so many states are doing. Think it was the NYTimes that had an item on that.I wonder what Vt is doing? They seem to be the state to live in in all ways. :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[madfloridian]

9. I believe Florida is 48th or 49th? Not sure.

Education is lagging here badly.

[Dark]

11. No, I think Alabama or Tennessee is down there. You're in the thirties

I believe.

[Snap]

8. Cheri Yecke new chancellor

Was Cheri Yecke disgraced rightwing lunatic commissioner of education appointee in Minnesota. She was not able to be confirmed and was sent on her way. Condolences to Florida, but she'll probably be more comfortable there.

[madfloridian]

13. She ran for congress this year from MN? Interesting.

It's a long way from MN to Florida, wonder when she arrived here?

http://craigwestover.blogspot.com/2005/02/cheri-yecke-announces-bid-for-congress.html

“I want to go to Washington to help hold the line on taxes and spending, work to defend life and traditional marriage, and stand with President Bush as he leads the War on Terror. My husband spent 20 years in the Marine Corps, and my son-in-law is a Marine who was recently deployed overseas to play his part in the war effort. I know firsthand the sacrifices our soldiers and military families make to keep our country safe and free. I will work to ensure that our troops receive all of the support they need to make the world a safer place for generations to come. And I will work to ensure that our veterans receive the help that a grateful nation should provide.”

Although her tenure as Governor Tim Pawlenty’s point person on education lasted only 16 months, Yecke spearheaded some of the most sweeping education reforms in recent memory, including:

Scrapping the Profile of Learning and implementing new standards that are rigorous, knowledge-based, and that establish high academic expectations for our children.

Requiring public accountability from our schools through such things as annual school performance report cards that include an objective rating system for our schools.

Reorganizing the “Department of Children, Family and Learning” by shrinking bureaucracy, imposing efficiency, and leading the charge to rename the agency the Minnesota Department of Education."

[madfloridian]

15. Check ou my new post on this. Outrageous about her hiring!

Here is the article.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-maxwell2405nov24,0,1922638.column?coll=orl-news-col

Here is my new post on this. It deserved its own thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5467355

[Dark]

10. I believe in Intelligent Design.

But I can't prove (or disprove) it, so it doesn't belong in a science class.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. A national board certified teacher?

OMG that is bad news. She has to be smart to be board certified.

Damn. This is what they did in Kansas too, folks. They got a group of teachers to start speaking out. It just snowballed from there.

[adriennui]

14. not enough yahoos

in florida to pass ANY creationism or "unintelligent" design curriculum....unless the state wants to become a laughing stock and push all those real estate prices down and discourage tourism.