Reflecting a difference of opinions in Tallahassee, local school board members and UF employees are split on the new evolution education standards.
By a 4-3 vote, the Florida Board of Education approved new Sunshine State Standards for science on Tuesday. The revised standards require for the first time that the "scientific theory of evolution" be taught in public schools.
The board wanted to revise Florida's science-education standards, written in 1996, to improve students' science performance compared to the rest of the country. In 2005, a national review of science teaching gave Florida a failing grade.
The previous standards allowed for the teaching of evolution but without calling it "evolution."
The first draft, written by scientists and science teachers, described evolution as the "fundamental concept underlying all of biology." But the board approved an alternate version that placed the phrase, "scientific theory of" before every mention of evolution.
While including evolution in Florida's science standards may seem like a step forward, Frederick Gregory, a UF history professor, said the word "theory" makes the standards arguable.
Gregory, who studies the relationship between science and religion, said evolution opponents argue the word "theory" implies a flimsy, uncertain idea. Meanwhile, supporters claim that the theory of evolution is as sound as the theory of gravity, he said.
"It sounds like an improvement," he said. "But I don't think it's going to solve anything."
Janie Williams, Alachua County School Board chairwoman, said she's comfortable with the word "theory" because it leaves room for students to make their own choices.
"I just know that students now, they have their own convictions, and it doesn't matter about the words that much," Williams said.
But Eileen Roy, another school board member, said words matter. Roy said the word "theory" weakens the standards.
Wesley Eubank, a county school board member, said he thinks the entire evolution issue was blown out of proportion, and it doesn't have anything to do with science performance.
"In terms of catching up with other countries in terms of our science level of our kids, that's not going to make a difference," Eubank said.
