An academic look at Florida's evolution battle

Remember all the back-and-forth earlier this year about whether evolution is "just a theory"? An article in a new academic journal, Evolution: Education and Outreach, uses the Florida fight as a frame for discussing some of the philosophical/historical reasons why the debate goes on. (It has a lot to do with Francis Bacon.)

Heavy stuff maybe, but if you care about the issue, check it out.

While we're on the subject again, is the Florida Legislature going to let sleeping dogs lie? Or should we expect to see the "academic freedom" bills resurface in, oh, six to eight months? Louisiana Governor (and potential John McCain running mate) Bobby Jindal signed a similar bill into law three weeks ago.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

But that's in Louisiana

Not content with its victory in the Florida Legislature, the Florida Citizens for Science is now lobbying Louisiana's governor over the issue of "academic freedom" in the teaching of evolution.

Though bills to open the scientific theory of evolution to criticism and alternatives failed here, they've received support in Louisiana. And that matters to us, Florida Citizens for Science spokesman Brandon Haught says.

"If such tactics successfully take root in Louisiana, (supporters) could then more easily spread elsewhere, including Florida," Haught suggests in a media advisory.

So on his blog he's urging Floridians who care to e-mail Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and ask him not to sign the bill into law: "Let him know that the bill absolutely does not help science education in any way, but rather will cause great harm."

And you thought the debate was over.

Evolution debate hits Louisiana

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, right?

Well, it looks like the Discovery Institute and its supporters, who tried to convince Florida lawmakers to allow for some "academic freedom" when teachers present lessons on the evolution of species, have taken their efforts to Louisiana with greater success.

The Louisiana State Senate has unanimously approved a bill that looks strangely like the one that failed in Florida. It's now on the way through the Louisiana House, where one committee already has given the measure the thumbs-up. Here's a piece:

C. A teacher shall teach the material presented in the standard textbook supplied by the school system and thereafter may use supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, as permitted by the city, parish, or other local public school board.

D. This Section shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.

The Americans United for Separation of Church and State already is on the case, calling the legislation a sneak attack to put religion into the classroom: "If this passes, Louisiana legislators will be harming children's education, undercutting the Constitution and holding the state up to national ridicule," the Rev. Barry Lynn, the group's executive director, said in a recent news release.

And to think, that special place in the national spotlight once was ours.

- Jeff Solochek

Calling all geeks!

How could we resist a press release with a headline like this: "Science Center Targets Science Geeks." That would be the Science Center of Pinellas County, which for the first time this summer will offer more intensive science classes for fifth and sixth graders.

"This is something extra we're trying for die hard science fans," said Madeline McNaughton, the center's executive director.

The one-week sessions, spent entirely in labs, will be offered several times over the summer, even as the center continues to offer its regular classes, too. To find out more, call the center at (727) 384-0027 or go to its website here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Evolution bill passes House, back to Senate

The bill requiring that teachers present a "scientific critical analysis" of the theory of evolution just passed the Florida House on a 71-43 vote, despite concerns from opponents who say it isn't necessary and will allow the teaching of religious theories like creationism and intelligent design in public schools.

"A true scientist is searching for the truth, and that's what this is encouraging," said bill sponsor Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.

"This bill is basically playing meatball surgery with our science curriculum," said Minority leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. "We should get on to more pressing issues in our state."

But the version that passed the House is markedly different from the Evolution Academic Freedom Act (SB2692) that narrowly passed the Senate last week, leaving its fate in doubt.

The House legislation now goes back to the Senate for consideration, but the Senate already rejected Sen. Ronda Storms' attempts to make her bill look like the House's.

Moreover, it's the final days of session so time is running out. "Tick, tick, tick, tick," Storms acknowledged last week.

House advances different version of evolution bill

The House moved forward its own version of the "evolution academic freedom" act today, taking the Senate's bill number and striking all the Senate language in favor of its own. Sponsor Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, accepted an amendment from Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, changing the language from requiring a "critical analysis" of evolution to require a "thorough presentation and scientific critical analysis" of the theory of evolution.

Kiar had argued that the bill as originally presented would have been unconstitutional, because it would mandate the introduction of all points critical of evolution, including religious points. He and others argued over and again that religion belongs in the place of worship, not in a classroom.

The debate was spirited, much along the same lines as that in the Senate. Hays ended by asking critics, "Why are you so afraid of scientific scrutiny if you're so confident in your theory?" He rejected the talk of pushing religion into schools as "hot air."

"This does not allow for religious teaching in the classroom. Again, ladies and gentlemen, it's about academic freedom," Hays said. The bill moved ahead to third reading, which cannot be amended. Key senators have indicated they did not expect to take up the measure again if it drastically differs from their already approved bill.

See the bill's progress here. To see the reaction from the Florida Citizens for Science, click here.

Just to be clear

Lawmakers pushing for teachers to have the "academic freedom" to explore all aspects of the theory of evolution continually say that they're not trying to open the door to teaching creationism or Intelligent Design in public schools.

State Rep. Marty Kiar (left), D-Davie, wants to hold them to their word. Kiar has proposed an amendment to the House version of the bill, which could come up for debate in the House on Friday. It add this to the legislation:

The provisions of this section shall not permit any member of the instructional staff of a public school to teach or promote any religious doctrine, teach or promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or teach or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.

Regardless of whether this proposal passes, the whole issue looks to be in jeopardy as the House version differs greatly from the Senate bill, which already has won approval. The Senate refused an amendment to make its bill in line with the one in the House, and as Sen. Stephen Wise told the Herald-Tribune, House sponsor Rep. Alan Hays "must be hitting the sauce if he thinks he's going to send the bill back here."

UPDATE: Kiar withdrew his amendment about an hour after this post went up. He still has two other amendments filed for the bill.

"Evolution Academic Freedom" bill passes Senate

The Florida Senate has approved legislation that would allow public school teachers "to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution." The 21-17 vote showed most Democrats opposed and most Republicans in favor.

GOP senators Paula Dockery of Lakeland, Dennis Jones of Seminole, Jim King of Jacksonville, Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach and Mike Bennett of Bradenton voted no. Democrat Gary Siplin of Orlando voted yes.

During debate, Democrats saw the bill as a way to get religion into schools, with little to do with science or the standards that the State Board of Education approved earlier this year.

"This bill is not really about evolution. It's not really about academic freedom, either," said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. "It's about a desire to open up the controversy of teaching creationism in the public schools."

Republicans who spoke rejected that notion. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said the bill does not either require the teaching of creationism or ban the teaching of evolution. Rather, he said, it opens the door for debate.

Throwing fuel on the fire

As if the issue of evolution hasn't been controversial enough in Florida, two state senators have moved to fan the flames by proposing a sex ed amendment to the "academic freedom" bill that's scheduled for second reading on the Senate floor today.

Riffing off the question of why some lawmakers have singled out evolution for special treatment in law, senators Ted Deutch (left) and Nan Rich have pitched the concept that teachers who instruct the equally contentious subject of sex education might deserve similar protection as those who raise questions about the origin of species.

Their amendment states, in part:

A public school teacher in the state's K-12 school system may not be disciplined, denied tenure, terminated, or otherwise discriminated against for objectively presenting scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological or chemical evolution and comprehensive sexual education that is age-appropriate and factual in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or biological evolution and any prescribed abstinence-only curriculum regarding human sexuality, respectively.

Deutch's own bill requiring schools to teach medically accurate, factual and age-appropriate sex education curriculum has shown no sign of life in committees. So why not try to attach the concept, which Republicans seem to dislike, onto the evolution bill that so many Democrats disdain, right? (Deutch was the lone nay vote on the evolution bill when it passed the Senate Education committee.)

The poison pill is not likely to win adoption. But it's entertaining to note. UPDATE: The amendment failed on voice vote.

UPDATE 2: After some spirited debate, the highlight of which was sponsor Sen. Ronda Storms answering in several ways except "yes" or "no" to the question whether Intelligent Design could be taught under her bill, the legislation was moved ahead for its third and final reading.

Darwin, Hitler and the Anti-Defamation League

It didn't do any good last week, but it should not be overlooked that the Anti-Defamation League opposes the "academic freedom" bills now moving with ease through the Florida Legislature.

The legislation "should be rejected because it would impede our children's understanding of science and the scientific method in an increasingly science and technology-oriented word," said Andrew Rosenkranz, ADL's Florida regional director, in a statement issued before the House Schools & Learning Council passed the bill Friday in a 7-4 party-line vote.

The ADL's position is especially significant given its core mission of fighting anti-Semitism, and attempts by some evolution opponents to link Darwin and Hitler.

St. Petersburg City Councilman Bill Foster made that pitch three months ago, and actor Ben Stein does so in his movie, "Expelled," which is set for national release on Friday.

In a related development, the Florida Citizens for Science blog issued a "public challenge" yesterday to Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, chief sponsor of the House bill. Hays and other supporters have repeatedly said the bills have nothing to do with religion, but with a desire to present critical, scientific analyses of evolution.

So, FCS asks: "Give examples of critical analysis of evolution that have no religious connotations and are also legitimate, up-to-date scientific ideas. If Hays refuses to give a straight answer, or even worse cites discredited, unscientific ideas, then the intent of these bills is questionable at best and the bills needs to be dropped."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

"Academic freedom" bill clears first House hurdle

The bill that has drawn criticism and praise for its effort to permit Florida teachers to challenge the theory of evolution in the classroom this morning won approval in the first of two House council stops before heading to the House floor.

The proposal - a stripped down version of the similar measure that remains pending in the Senate - passed the Schools and Learning Council along strictly partisan lines. So far, no Republican lawmakers have voted against it.

During the hearing, sponsor Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, offered more generic language than initially proposed, hoping to blunt some of the criticism that the legislation aimed to create a wedge that paves the way for creationism to be taught in science classes. His new bill calls for teachers to have room to critically analyze the theory of evolution without fear of reprisal.

Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Davie, still questioned whether the amended version wouldn't open the door to religion being taught, suggesting an opposing view to evolution clearly is creationism. "I am a staunch, diehard Catholic. But I believe I should get my religion at church," Kiar said. This bill "practically mandates" the teaching of creationism.

"Don't try to read something in there that isn't already there," Hays said. "It's direct and to the point. Any good science theory that is a valid theory should be able to withstand a critical analysis."

Will it prohibit teaching creationism, Kiar countered.

"The Supreme Court has said you can't teach religion in the public schools," Hays responded.

Let's talk about evolution

Hoping to stave off "legislative threats" to Florida's new science curriculum - particularly the sections dealing with evolution of species - the Florida Citizens for Science will have a public roundtable discussion about the issue at 7 p.m. Monday in Tallahassee. The forum will include some high-profile panelists who will "address why the so-called 'Evolution Academic Freedom Act' introduced in the state House and Senate is bad for science education in Florida and the growth of Florida's economy," the group's press release states.

The speakers include FSU chemistry professor Dr. Harold Kroto, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in chemistry, and ACLU of Pennsylvania legal director Vic Walczak, who won the landmark Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case that challenged the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.

The event, to be held at Challenger Learning Center, Digital Dome/Planetarium, 200 South Duval Street, is free and open to the public. And as for Ben Stein's showing of his documentary "Expelled," lawmakers are invited "and encouraged" to attend.

Florida Citizens for Science announced the roundtable after the "academic freedom" bill passed its final Senate committee on its way to the floor. A companion bill in the House has not received any hearings.

Round 2 for Storms’ bill

Sen. Ronda Storms' "academic freedom" bill faces its next hurdle tomorrow in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill blew through the Senate education committee two weeks ago and, at first glance, it doesn't appear the judiciary committee is predisposed to do anything different. But who knows? There have been a few twists and surprises in this still-unfolding debate over Florida's new science standards, and tomorrow may bring another.

On a related note, the Florida Citizens for Science blog posted this revealing tidbit last week, which again calls into question the motivations of bill supporters who insist they have no religious motivation. In short: Supporters are looking for Florida public school teachers who have faced discrimination for criticizing evolution, and they're going to the Christian Educators Association International and injesus.com to find them. Both bills insist there are "many instances" of this, though supporters have had trouble naming more than two.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

What's not there

As you check out the calendars for this week's action in Tallahassee, you might be struck by two glaring absences.

First, the Senate Education Pre-K-12 committee isn't scheduled to convene. All the other education-related Senate panels are getting together, but check under Don Gaetz's committee notices and it says "04/08/2008, 03:15 P.M., Not Meeting."

There's plenty of unsettled business here. What's going on?

Consider this: Much of that unfinished business is coming from the House, where members have not taken up all of the Senate's education pet projects or, if they have, they've got different specifics in play. This could be the first round of political gamesmanship, where they start trading this idea for that one. Wait and see.

Second, the House Schools and Learning Council has not placed Rep. Alan Hays' "academic freedom" bill (HB 1483) on its agenda, which is expected to be its last of the session. If the bill doesn't get a vote coming out of the council, it can't go to the House floor. (Though that doesn't stop the House from taking up the Senate version, if it ever gets sent over.)

One key education lawmaker in the House tells the Gradebook that many council members think the State Board of Education's action of adding evolution to the science standards as a "scientific theory" is quite sufficient and no further action is needed. (For more on that whole matter, see our many past posts here.) But recall Speaker Marco Rubio said back in February that he expected the battle to go on in the House.

Has Rubio relented? Is the fight over evolution in the school curriculum over (for now)? Again, wait and see.

Not today

When the House Schools and Learning Council meets this morning, it won't be taking up Rep. Alan Hays' "academic freedom" bill relating to the origin of species. The legislation, which already has been heavily amended as it moves through the Senate, has yet to receive one hearing on the House side, and the Legislature wraps at the end of the month.

Don't read much into this lack of action.

The council has one more meeting planned, and chairman Joe Pickens tells the Gradebook that the bill isn't dead yet.

"We still may hear something," Pickens says, adding that he plans to consult Speaker Marco Rubio on the issue. "It's not determined. It's definitely not a 'no' yet."

He noted that the House doesn't have an Ethics in Education bill similar to the one that won Senate approval last week. Yet the chamber expects to take up the measure, which would impose harsher sanctions on teachers convicted of misconduct against students. It's just waiting for the Senate to send it over.

In other words, don't think of the remaining three weeks as a short time, but rather as a period where anything can happen.

(Image from BBC.com)

"Academic freedom" bill passes Senate committee

By DAVID DECAMP
Times Staff Writer

TALLAHASSEE — A Senate panel endorsed “protections” Wednesday for students and teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution — despite a report saying there’s never been a case alleging such discrimination in Florida.

Sen. Ronda Storms’ “academic freedom” bill, which won a 4-1 vote by an education committee, says teachers cannot be punished or denied tenure if they “objectively” present scientific information, even if it questions evolution. Students receive the same shield in their coursework.

“It’s interesting for me to note that the only folks who have brought up religion today have been those in opposition,” said Storms, R-Valrico, who suggested the bill helps foster critical thinking, not faith-based teaching.

The bill (SB 2692/HB 1483) has prompted stiff defense by cultural conservatives, and equally stiff objections from scientists and the American Civil Liberties Union — and renewed the debate over evolution and creationism in schools. The bill was introduced after the State Board of Education voted 4-3 last month to adopt new science standards that embrace evolution, but refer to it as a “scientific theory.”

Storms' evolution bill passes first panel

The Senate's committee on K-12 education voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve Sen. Ronda Storms' bill to protect teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution and students who offer other theories. Only Sen. Ted. Deutch opposed it, despite criticism from some science instructors and the ACLU.

Storms, R-Brandon, said the bill doesn't say creationism or other religious-based ideas should be taught, but critics said it was a back-door way to allow religious theories counter to Darwin. She did amend it with Sen. Steve Wise to tight a few weaknesses, such as allowing Holocaust deniers to be heard.

"This is very confusing to me, because I believe this will open the door to very serious problems in the school system," said Sen. Larcenia Bullard, who suggested she might oppose the bill in a full Senate vote.

Here's the vote tally, in case you wondered -- Bullard, Wise, Lisa Carlton, and Alex de la Portilla supported the bill, Deutch opposed it, and chairman Don Gaetz and vice chair Frederica Wilson were absent.

-- David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

Where's the problem?

As the Senate education committee gears up to debate Sen. Ronda Storms "academic freedom" bill today, a recently released committee staff analysis raises this point: "According to the Department of Education, there has never been a case in Florida where a public school teacher or public school student has claimed that they have been discriminated against based on their science teaching or science course work."

Sound familiar? The Gradebook raised this issue three weeks ago.

The staff analysis also references the nature-of-science component of the new science standards to conclude: "Taken as a whole, the science standards encourage teachers and students to discuss the full range of scientific evidence related to all science, including evolution." Does that mean Storms' bill – which would give teachers the "right and freedom to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views" on evolution – is redundant?

The committee packet also includes a proposed amendment from Sen. Stephen Wise, who is co-sponsoring Storms's bill. We'll hear more about all this in a bit …

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Science, non-science, nonsense

Calling all you die-hards who can’t get enough of the evolution debate. Eckerd College in St. Petersburg has a treat for you: A guest lecture Thursday night from Lawrence Krauss, who heads the physics department at Case Western Reserve University and is one of the few living scientists often described (by no less than Scientific American, for example) as a "public intellectual."

Krauss's lecture, free and open to the public, is entitled, "Science, Non-science and Nonsense: From Aliens to Creationism." For a taste of what Krauss thinks about this issue, see this essay he wrote for the New York Times.

Krauss has written seven books, including "The Physics of Star Trek," an international bestseller. And in recent months he has helped push ScienceDebate2008, which calls for a presidential debate on science and technology.

Krauss's lecture begins at 7:30 in Miller Auditorium. Eckerd College is at 4200 54th Avenue South. For more info, e-mail events@eckerd.edu or call (727) 864-7979.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

(PS. The Senate "academic freedom" bill is scheduled for its first public hearing today in the Education Pre-K-12 Committee. Click here for a short story on the hearing from the Fort Myers News-Press.)

Storms' bills heads for showdown

Will it be the The Clash in The Committee? The Donnybrook over Darwin? The Smackdown in Tally-town?

Okay, we're putting the thesaurus down, but you can't blame us: Sen. Ronda Storm's "academic freedom" bill (SB 2692) goes before the Senate education committee this week, and who knows what will happen.

Maybe we're too far removed from the action, but from way down here in Tampa Bay, it appears the education committee's decision could have as much drama, if not import, as the Board of Education vote on Feb. 19.

The committee has seven members – four Republicans and three Democrats – and one of the Republicans, Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, is co-sponsoring Storms' bill. Two members – Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami – have commented about the issue (see this recent St. Petersburg Times story here), but not enough to comfortably predict how they will vote. As for the other four, who knows?

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building. There are six other bills on the agenda.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Science committee opposes Storms' bill

Thirty-seven members of the committee that drafted the state's new science standards have lined up against the recently filed "academic freedom" bills, saying in a statement this morning that the bills are a subterfuge for injecting the religious beliefs held by some into the science classroom."

"Evolution is the only explanation of the development and diversity of life that relies entirely on scientifically verifiable laws of nature and accounts for a huge set of observations without requiring the intervention of a supernatural agent," the statement also says.

The bills, based on model legislation from the Discovery Institute, the Seattle center known for its advocacy of intelligent design, would provide teachers with "a right to present scientific information relevant to the full range of views on biological and chemical origins." Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, and Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, filed the bills in the wake of the state Baord of Education's Feb. 19 decision to adopt new standards that describe evolution as the fundamental pillar of modern biology.

It's anyone's guess how much traction the bills will get, but it's not hard to envision a scenario where they end up on Gov. Crist's desk. On the House side, the bill has the support of House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, who is widely considered to be a future candidate for governor and could use the bill to shore up support from religious conservatives. On the Senate side, the education committee headed by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is shaping up to be the key hurdle.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

What's it all about?

Actor-economist-political adviser-celeb Ben Stein made his pitch today in Tallahassee for SB 2692/HB 1483 - the "Academic Freedom" bill on the teaching of biological origins. It's not about dogma, the Palm Beach Post quotes him as saying. "It's about freedom of speech."

The ACLU of Florida would beg to differ.

After Stein's press conference, ACLU exec director Howard Simon released his own statement on the subject matter. Simon says it's about science, and what should be taught in the science classroom:

The presumption of this bill is that all you have to do to teach something in a science class is to call it science. Simply saying something is science does not make it so and calling Intelligent Design science, does not make is science. Intelligent Design relies on the assertion that there is a supernatural creator, which inherently precludes it from being scientific, as the ACLU proved in our landmark case in Dover, PA.   

The issue is not whether theories such as Intelligent Design can be taught in our public schools, but in what setting. Controversies about theories that rely on a supernatural explanation may be suitable in a political science or literature class, but to be included in a science class it must be a theory that is scientifically verifiable. Allowing schools to masquerade Intelligent Design as science would be a blunder and an embarrassment for the Florida Legislature. The courts have spoken on this issue and the message was clear: Intelligent Design, because it relies on a supernatural power, is a religious view not a scientific view.

The State Board of Education recently added evolution to the science curriculum, calling it a "scientific theory" that undergirds much of biology. Critics see the bill as an attempt to get from lawmakers what they couldn't get from the State Board, namely, an entry point for creationism and/or Intelligent Design into the curriculum. The bills have yet to progress in either house of the Legislature.

Some members will be viewing Stein's documentary on the topic this evening.

Calling all "offensive Christians"

Before you start sending hate e-mails, read on.

Amid the many blogs out there weighing in on Florida's heated debate over teaching evolution in schools, there's a new one called Offensive Christians that's caught our eye. Its author, who posts as "OC," writes that Christians need to go on the offense in the war of ideas: "We must not stand idly by only preparing to defend against the latest attack. We must seek positions to attack humanism, atheism, radical Islam, and 'arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.'"

And OC has put out the all-call to Florida's offensive Christians, asking them to stand up for the "academic freedom" bill that Sen. Ronda Storms and Rep. D. Alan Hays have filed in the Legislature. It takes particular aim at the Florida Citizens for Science, which has led an active campaign to add evolution as a key standard (something many scientists across the country also advocated).

Florida Citizens for Science (as if Creationists like Newton, Pastuer [sic], Kelvin, Boyle, Kepler, Pascal, and Babbage were anti-science) is mobilizing the humanists to defeat this bill. You've got to get out there and counter their initiative if you want to be able to even discuss any scientific concerns anyone has with macroevolution. Florida Citizens for Science has a link tracking the bill and tips for contacting legislators. Wouldn't it be ironic if we used their link to track and ensure the passage of this bill? I think it would also be wise to read their background and talking points so we can make effective counter-points.

Florida Citizens for Science has, of course, already responded.

Funny. Many of our members are Christians. For example, our president is a deacon in his church and in the church choir. One of our board members is president of Pacesetters Bible School, Inc. Groups like Offensive Christians really need to get the message that our side of the fight is focused on science education. ... It's not about fighting for or against any religion. Unfortunately, many of those on the other side of the fight are focused on religion to a fault.

Don't want to take sides in this one. We'll just sit back, as reporters do, and watch the fireworks (and tell you about them). Probably tomorrow, when Hays shows Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled" to his colleagues in Tallahassee. Ben Stein is even supposed to be there.

"Expelled" can't be expelled?

And now for yet another development in the evolution debate …

The director of a Tallahassee science center said today that the center had no choice but to allow a group to rent the facility for an upcoming showing of the movie "Expelled" – which many scientists consider to be anti-science – to members of the Florida Legislature.

Challenger Center Director Norman Thagard (left) told The Gradebook this afternoon that the center was not in any way endorsing the movie, and that not allowing its IMAX movie center to be rented for the showing of "Expelled" could open the door to a discrimination lawsuit. "I just don't want the center to be portrayed as sponsoring this," Thagard said. "We're just allowing our facilities to be used per our policies."

The Challenger Center in downtown Tallahassee is an educational outreach facility for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, where Thagard, a former astronaut, is a tenured professor. "Expelled" is a new documentary by Ben Stein that posits that "educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the 'crime' of merely believing that there might be evidence of 'design' in nature."

The showing in Tallahassee comes as the Legislature is set to consider "academic freedom" bills that would allow teachers to veer from new science standards passed last month by the state Board of Education.

The persecution problem

The "academic freedom" bills filed by Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, and Rep. D. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, make a sweeping claim: "The Legislature finds that in many instances educators have experienced or feared discipline, discrimination, or other adverse consequences as a result of presenting the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution."

Is that true in Florida? Is there a widespread problem?

Hays (left) told The Gradebook he wasn't sure, and said the bill language might have to be tweaked. One prominent supporter wasn’t sure either. Christian activist Terry Kemple of Brandon said the bill is needed to keep teachers who don't march in lock step on evolution from being blackballed. But when asked for examples, both Hays and Kemple cited the same two teachers – one retired (Robin Brown) and one current (David Brackin), both of whom addressed the Board of Education before the Feb. 19 vote. (To see Brown and Brackin’s statements, click here and here.)

"They said they're not the only ones," Kemple said. And like some of the academics in "Expelled," the upcoming Ben Stein movie, he suspected many of them might be too afraid to speak up.

Religion has nothing to do with it?

Are critics of the state's new science standards asking the rest of the public to take a leap of faith?

Many of them said repeatedly during the tug-of-war leading up to the Feb. 19 Board of Education vote that their concerns were grounded in science and evidence, not religion and faith. Never mind that leading opponents included the Florida Baptist Convention; the Florida Family Policy Council, a group that supports Biblical family values; and Donna Callaway, the BOE member who publicly announced her opposition through the Florida Baptist Witness.

Now the same argument is being made about the "academic freedom" bills recently filed in the Florida Legislature by Sen. Ronda Storms (left), R-Brandon, and Rep. D. Alan Hays (right), R-Umatilla. The bill language says it does not "promote any religious position" and refers to the right of teachers to present "the full range of scientific views." It does not mention creationism, intelligent design, or any other faith-based theories.

But it's worth pointing out that both Storms and Hays are Baptist, and both make no bones about their strong religious backgrounds. Hays notes on his House website that he picked up the Christian Coalition Faith & Family Award in 2005 and 2006. And last month, Storms filed a bill (SB 2010) to create an "I Believe" license plate, which would feature a crucifix and send proceeds to Faith in Teaching, a group "dedicated to funding education in Florida's faith based community."

If Storms and Hays had a poster child for their bills, it might be David Brackin. The Orange County middle school teacher was one of 10 critics who addressed the BOE Feb. 19, and he told board members, "If I am to lead my students into true scientific inquiry I must be allowed to teach all the evidence including the cracks in and the weaknesses of evolution."

Brackin told The Gradebook yesterday that he was "chastised" years ago by an assistant principal, who told him he could not talk about religion in class. But Brackin said he never mentioned religion. Instead, he said, "I refuted evolution. I talked about the weaknesses in evolution."

Brackin said he now teaches at a school where the principal "believes in academic freedom." He said although he did not think it was relevant, he is an evangelical Christian. He also said he thinks intelligent design is as scientifically valid as evolution. "Neither one can be proven," he said. "Nobody was there."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

"Dude! Science is the bomb diggity!"

Well, maybe we can't come up with a rockin' slogan that will sell the public on the state's new math and science standards, but somebody out there is going to give it a shot. A PR campaign is one part of a $21.9 million federal grant recently awarded to USF, FSU and UF to beef up math and science education.

"We're hoping to flood Florida," said Gladis Kersaint, an associate professor of mathematics education at USF who is the principal investigator of the grant award. If all goes as planned (translation: if enough money can be raised from the private sector), expect to see pamphlets, brochures, TV ads and billboards promoting the new standards, which, despite the continuing ruckus over evolution, are considered top-notch by many teachers and scientists.

Supporters of the Florida PROMiSE program (that's short for Partnership to Rejuvenate and Optimize Mathematics and Science Education) hope to get the message out by the end of this school year. "The standards do represent a big shift," Kersaint said. "In order to achieve our goals for Florida students, we really need the community to understand and support our efforts. It will be detrimental in the long term if there is opposition because of a lack of understanding."

Much of the grant money will be devoted to professional development for teachers. To read more about PROMiSE, click here. If you’ve got any ideas for the PR campaign - or better yet, money - call Kersaint at (813) 974-1644.

- Ron Matus, sate education reporter

Go ahead and teach creation

It looks like the Florida Legislature will have its say on the role of evolution in the science classroom, after all.

State Sen. Ronda Storms, a Brandon Republican, has filed what she calls the "Academic Freedom Act" (SB 2692) with a stated goal of "providing public school teachers with a right to present scientific information relevant to the full range of views on biological and chemical origins."

In the findings section of the bill, Storms writes that the Legislature finds that many Florida teachers have "experienced or feared discipline, discrimination or other adverse consequences" for presenting a "full range of scientific views" regarding chemical and biological origins.

Her bill would would ban penalizing teachers for teaching alternatives, and disallow action against students for taking a position on evolution.

There's no related House bill filed yet.

Brandon Haught, blogger for Florida Citizens for Science, calls the proposal "typical grandstanding" and predicts (hopes?) the bill will go nowhere: "This bill was written in a way to make it way too obvious what the purpose is, and so it won’t be taken seriously."

Still, he writes, it "wouldn't hurt to write to your Florida legislators to let them know what you think of this."

Terry Kemple, president of the Brandon-based Community Issues Council, praised the effort. He worked closely with Storms in preparing the legislation.

"Finally teachers and students will have the opportunity to cover all the information regarding the theory of evolution," Kemple said in a news release, in which he also noted that a House member will be filing the same bill.

The Legislature convenes tomorrow. Stay tuned.

A weekend interview with ...

... Dr. Jay B. Labov, a senior adviser for education and communications for the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council. He also oversees the National Academies' activities to improve the teaching of evolution in public schools. Labov spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about Florida's new science standards.

Generally, relating to Florida's new standards, how do you view them?

Well, it's a good thing, first of all, that they're actually acknowledging evolution and including the word in the standards. And I also think it's good news that the standards explicitly state, and the board adopted the idea, that evolution is one of the big ideas in science and one of the underlying principles of biology.

So the words 'scientific theory' don't bother you?

It is a scientific theory. I notice they also put those words in front of other things such as the scientific theory of cells, which is also true. So I think it may have been an attempt to try to mollify some people who think that theory is something less than how scientists think about it. Theory is the highest level of evidence and explanation in the scientific world. But the fact that they also included that next to the scientific theory of cells, for instance, or atoms, suggests that theory is at a high level. So if evolution is equal to those theories, or vice versa, I would say that's probably reasonable.

But we also know that evolution is a fact. In our book Science, Evolution and Creationism, if you look on page 11 you'll see a whole box that asks the question 'Is evolution a theory or a fact?' And it points out why it's both.

I have seen a lot of people commenting in different places that evolution is not a theory, it's the theory. And so they kind of take issue with the way the State Board of Education wiggled around it. I was wondering what you think about that.

I didn't realize the word 'a' or 'the.' It is the scientific theory or explanation that is accepted by the overwhelming majority of the scientific community. It has evidence from many, many different disciplines, it is one of the most robust theories in its ability to explain and predict in all of science. ... It's also been shown over the course of years, and as new disciplines have come on line, such as molecular biology, that's only served to reinforce and build upon what we already have known about the theory of evolution for a long time.

So why has this not become the law of evolution, for instance?

Rubio: Evolution battle 'will go on'

So maybe it's not over. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, who is often described as a likely future governor, told the Florida Baptist Witness in this story yesterday that the evolution battle "will go on for quite some time" and that the House "may have sufficient votes" to act on an academic freedom proposal being pushed by religious conservatives.

Here is an excerpt from the Witness, which has scored a couple of scoops in covering the evolution story: "The 'crux' of the disagreement, according to Rubio, is 'whether what a parent teachers their children at home should be mocked and derided  and undone at the public school level. It goes to the fundamental core of who is ultimately, primarily responsible for the upbringing of children. Is it your public education system or is it your parents?' "

Rubio's comments follow Tuesday's vote by the Board of Education to adopt new science standards that embrace evolution, though with compromise language that describes evolution as a "scientific theory." In this letter sent to the board that day – apparently before the vote - Rubio and four other lawmakers indicated they were happy with that change.

Board members discussed the academic freedom proposal but did not take action. As circulated by opponents, it would have changed the science standards to say evolution was "a fundamental concept underlying all of biology" rather than "the fundamental concept" (our emphasis added) and would have included language allowing teachers to "engage students in a critical analysis" of the evidence supporting evolution.

Supporters suggest the academic freedom idea originated with the Discovery Institute, the Seattle-based outfit best known for its advocacy of intelligent design. In the aftermath of Tuesday's vote, the institute posted this critique: "Sadly, the proposed Florida science standards stifle will free inquiry because they too censor any real scientific challenges to evolution. Change is now necessary if Florida teachers are to be given the academic freedom to inform students about scientists who dissent from evolution."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Disappointed

So how does it feel to work for more than a year to produce a set of "world class" science standards, only to have others come behind you and insert words you never would have used yourself?

Disappointing, says Janet Acerra, a teacher at Forest Lakes Elementary in Oldsmar who served on the committee that wrote Florida’s new science standards.

"I understand the political pressure," Acerra said. "But I wonder when we’ll put our children’s need to be the best they can be ahead of political correctness."

The Board of Education approved the standards 4-3 Tuesday, but not without agreeing to add language that clearly identifies every scientific concept – including evolution – as either a law or a theory. The result: Gravity is a law. Evolution is a theory.

Would Acerra have approved the standards with the changes? "No. I would have said, ‘Let’s return to the table and keep working.’ Unfortunately, government doesn’t work that way."

Besides worrying about whether students will be shortchanged, Acerra, a National Board Certified teacher, wonders how the revised standards will strike groups that had applauded them in their original form, such as the Fordham Institute.

"When they saw the document we produced, those organizations that previously had graded us with F’s were coming close to giving us A’s," Acerra said. "This version may not be viewed in that same way."

- Donna Winchester, Pinellas education reporter

Evolution, legislation, litigation

Add state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, to the list of lawmakers who had earlier criticized the state's proposed new science standards but who applauded yesterday's 4-3 decision by the Board of Education. By adopting strong standards "while continuing to acknowledge other viewpoints, we are teaching an important lesson in respect," Weatherford said in a written statement late Tuesday.

As reported in today's St. Petersburg Times, two other lawmakers - Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, and Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park - also praised the board's decision, which is significant given that both had threatened legislative action if they were not satisfied with the outcome. The board okayed the standards, but in a hotly debated compromise agreed to add "scientific theory" wherever appropriate in the standards, including in the evolution language.

As the Times also reported, some opponents were not happy, and vowed to fight on. One of them, Brandon community activist Terry Kemple, told The Gradebook that because of the new standards, "teachers who want to teach all aspects of evolution ... are going to be intimidated into not teaching all of the evidence." Asked whether a lawsuit was imminent, Kemple said no and pointed to the Legislature. "I don't really see it going that route, but there is that potential," he said. "There are other avenues to pursue first."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

And the decision is ...

Evolution officially is a "scientific theory" in Florida's curriculum.

The State Board of Education narrowly adopted new science standards with the added language, with some members saying the decision will leave the idea open to questions by students, while others contended the wording is a clear attempt by creationists to water down science instruction.

The vote was 4-3, with Chairman T. Willard Fair and members Linda Taylor, Phoebe Raulerson and Kathleen Shanahan in support.

"Do I believe in the theory of evolution? Absolutely," Shanahan said. "But I also believe there's more to explore."

Members Roberto Martinez and Akshay Desai voted no because they backed the proposed standards as written, while Donna Callaway was opposed because she wanted the board to go even further toward "academic freedom."

Said Martinez: "We're watering down the best possible standards we could have to appease a certain segment of society."

What’s next is unclear.

Both sides have threatened lawsuits. And at least three lawmakers - Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park and Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville - have said they may file legislation if the board approves the proposed standards without significant changes.

Tuesday’s vote followed weeks of mounting drama. The proposed new standards were unveiled in October. But it wasn’t until late November, when the Florida Baptist Witness published comments from board member Donna Callaway, that the debate began in earnest. Callaway told the Jacksonville-based newspaper that she could not vote in favor of the proposed standards because evolution "should not be taught to the exclusion of other theories of origin of life."

From that point on, tension escalated. More than a dozen North Florida school boards filed resolutions in opposition, with some saying they wanted evolution taught as a "theory" and others saying they wanted inclusion of faith-based theories such as creationism or intelligent design. David C. Gibbs III, the lawyer who represented Terri Schiavo’s parents and siblings, also jumped into the fray, arguing that the state’s position on evolution was so dogmatic, it crossed the line between science and faith.

On the other side, scientists rallied. Among the organizations that signalled support: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Center for Science Education, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, the Florida Academy of Sciences and the Florida Citizens for Science.

State education officials said their aim was to create world-class science standards.

The previous standards, written in 1996, didn’t mention the word "evolution" and were slammed by scientists as vague and shallow. Their reputation hit rock-bottom in 2005, when the Fordham Institute, a respected national think tank, gave them an F, in part for giving short shrift to evolution "in response to religious and political pressures."

"A number of states have resisted this madness in their science standards but too many are fudging or obfuscating the entire basis on which biology rests," said the report, which was chiefly authored by biologist Paul Gross, former head of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass., and a former provost at the University of Virginia. (Gross told the St. Petersburg Times in November that the proposed new standards were "an excellent change.")

Compromise for no one

Supporters of the state's proposed new science standards say a Department of Education proposal to add the words "scientific theory" to the draft description of evolution isn't a good idea after all. The Florida Citizens for Science issued a statement this morning objecting to the last-minute proposal, and reversing course on more accommodating statements made Friday by the group’s spokesman (see St. Petersburg Times story on that here.)

"The proposed changes confuse the difference between fact and theory," the statement says. "As an example: Gravity is both a fact and a theory. Gravity happens no matter how it is explained. It is the same with evolution. Evolution is theory in that it has tremendous explanatory power for understanding living systems. But it is also a fact: it happened in the past and is happening now. Thus, adding 'scientific theory of' in front of evolution everywhere it appears in the science standards is an uninformed idea that diminishes the value of the standards."

Though it doesn't agree with the Florida Citizens for Science on the subject, the Florida Baptist Convention concurs on one point: It doesn't like the "scientific theory" option, either.

"We do not believe that the mere adding of the phrase 'scientific theory of' before the word 'evolution' in the standards will really fix the problem," the group says in its statement, posted in full on the Florida Baptist Witness web site and also delivered to the State Board of Education. "As we have stated, this will not address the standards' silence about teaching scientific criticisms of evolution."

DOE officials told The Gradebook on Friday that they ran the idea past several members of the writers and framers committee that crafted the proposed standards – and that those members agreed the wording was "scientifically accurate." But other members were not happy with the proposed change, and let the Florida Citizens for Science know, said FCS spokesman Brandon Haught.

Today's statement quotes committee member Debra Walker, an archaeologist and Monroe County school board member, as saying, "The Board of Education charged this expert panel to do the work and we did it. To edit it without specific expertise makes no sense, diminishes our work, and, more importantly, sets a dangerous precedent belittling the value of scientific knowledge in Florida for this generation and the next."

DOE officials say the proposed wording change does not replace the draft that the Board of Education will consider tomorrow, but is offered as an option. They say additional language would be added to the standards wherever appropriate, not just to the sections covering evolution.

- Ron Matus and Jeff Solochek

Predictions, anyone?

Just 24 hours from now, the Florida State Board of Education will meet to consider whether to the state's science education standards will evolve. The most heated issue, if you haven't figured it out by now, centers on Darwin's teachings on biological evolution.

Is it a theory with alternatives, a "scientific theory" (which supposedly differs from a regular old theory), or the basis of biology? The State Board of Education will decide - at least as far as Florida's curriculum is concerned.

What do you think the board will do?

1. Side with the scientists. The scientific community is fairly unanimous in its support of the evolution standard as written. How could it hurt to say, We approved a science curriculum that scientists agree with?
2. Side with the "alternative" seekers. Florida is a unique place with its own unique way of doing things. If so many Florida school boards, members of the public and even teachers agree that evolution needs some balance, how could they be wrong? Besides, some lawmakers have threatened to take action on this issue, anyway.
3. Adopt some mushy middle ground that no one is really satisfied with, saying afterward, If everyone is equally unhappy, we must have found the answer.
4. Pawn off the decision. The board has a brand new commissioner and K-12 chancellor on staff, folks the board hired to guide the state through some tough educational times. This qualifies as tough, right? So why not ask the hired guns for the final "advice."
5. Punt. The board already has bent twice - once to allow public testimony after saying it wouldn't, once to offer the phrase "the scientific theory of" - so it's not entirely out of the question that it will table the whole issue for time to find a more "palatable" answer.

Then there's the matter of the final vote. What will chairman T. Willard Fair, mum to this point, decide? Will Donna Callaway, the first board member to oppose the standard - in a Florida Baptist Witness interview - stand firm? What about Dr. Akshay Desai, who along with attorney Roberto Martinez has said he will back the standard? Will they accept a "scientific theory" compromise?

Now's your chance. Make your prediction and be find out how good a guesser you are tomorrow.

(Image from the University of Plymouth Department of Psychology)

A compromise on evolution?

Will describing evolution as a "scientific theory" appease critics who say the state's proposed new science standards are dogmatic?

Department of Education officials told The Gradebook this afternoon that they will offer that option to the Board of Education Tuesday, when the board is slated to vote on the proposed standards in Tallahassee. "That's not a compromise at all," said DOE spokeswoman Jennifer Fennell. "We're bringing forth the best options that are still scientifically accurate."

Fennell said DOE officials ran the idea past some members of the writers and framers committee (which crafted the proposed standards) and "the consensus is, it's scientifically accurate."

The proposed standards describe evolution as "the fundamental concept underlying all of biology" and one "supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence." The term theory is not used.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Another science group for evolution

The public might not agree with the teaching of evolution in Florida's science classrooms. But the number of scientists voicing their support for the idea continues to grow.

The National Academy of Sciences is the latest organization to lend its backing to the state's proposed science standard that would treat evolution as a key concept underpinning biology.

"We applaud the efforts of the writing committee and the product of their work," academy president Ralph J. Cicerone wrote with Institute of Medicine president Harvey V. Fineberg in a letter to State Board of Edu