Next stop, the framers

With the public comment period officially over, the 58 educators and scientists who drafted Florida's proposed science standards are getting back together to see how - if at all - they want to revise the recommendations before sending them to the State Board of Education.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the panel will meet for three days this week to pore over the many responses that residents submitted - more than 10,000 in all - and discuss any wording changes. Much of the public debate has been over one item relating to evolution, although the standards include a plethora of other subjects.

Overall, educators and scientists have applauded the changes, which they say would move Florida's science education years ahead. But many members of the general public have attacked the evolution standard, saying it should include faith-based teachings.

Miami Herald columnist Fred Grimm laments that such heated discussion over just one aspect has launched Florida into the "vacuum of irreconcilable beliefs" that only hurts Florida's school children.

The State Board is set to make its decision on Feb. 19.

Comments

[Tom]

Snip
Overall, educators and scientists have applauded the changes, which they say would move Florida's science education years ahead. But many members of the general public have attacked the evolution standard, saying it should include faith-based teachings.
Snip

So, now the public can dictate that the Constitution of the United Sates is null and void?

I'm sure many members of the general public are in favor of jailing every Muslim they see because of the threat of terrorism by Islamic extremists, but that would deny those citizens their fundamental rights GUARANTEED by the Constitution.

Remember - introducing faith-based teachings - presumably ONLY the Abrahamic creation story - into public schools is establishing a state religion. That's a direct violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. And, that will be struck down by the Federal Courts, as it has been time and time again.

Let's that the (very scarce taxpayer's) budget money we'd have to spend on defending a losing lawsuit and put it toward increasing literacy, boosting the pathetic graduation rate and reemphasizing vocational education for kids who aren't planning on attending college.