The Ledger reports that the majority of Polk County, Florida, School Board members support teaching Intelligent Design in addition to evolution in public schools.
It’s unclear if they’re prepared to change the definition of science. Some people are concerned that a supernatural theory will not mesh with the study of the natural world.
Board member Kay Fields said last week she wants intelligent design, which is promoted by some Christian groups, taught in science classes in addition to evolution.
“If it ever comes to the board for a vote, I will vote against the teaching of evolution as part of the science curriculum,” Lofton said. “If (evolution) is taught, I would want to balance it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme being as well.”
The board’s majority opinion is at odds with many in Florida’s scientific community who strongly support the new, more rigorous science standards, and say intelligent design lacks scientific credibility.
Perhaps Florida’s scientific community has not realized the type of genius arguments they’re up against:
“My tendency would be to have both sides shared with students since neither side can be proven,” [School Board Member] Tim Harris said.
“I don’t have a conflict with intelligent design versus evolution,” [School Board Member] Sellers said. “The two go together.”
“It crosses the line with people who are Christians,” [School Board Member] Lofton said. “Evolution is offensive to a lot of people.”
Pastafarians are concerned that the Polk County School Board is endorsing Intelligent Design, but ignoring our theory, even though it is widely endorsed by the scientific community.
I will wager that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster can produce more academic endorsements for our theory than Intelligent Design proponents can for theirs.
My guess is that the Polk County School Board is just unaware of Pastafarianism. As a public service, I propose that we contact them, and let them know that there are other supernatural theories just as valid as Intelligent Design, primarily ours.
Contact info:
Those in favor of Intelligent Design:
Kay Fields (District 5)
Kay.Fields@polk-fl.net
863-802-5483
Tim Harris (District 7)
Tim.Harris@polk-fl.net
863-808-0005
Margaret Lofton (District 6, Chairman)
Margaret.Lofton@polk-fl.net
863-294-9076
Hazel Sellers (District 3)
Hazel.Sellers@polk-fl.net
863-533-7714
Lori Cunningham (District 2, Vice-Chairman) - undecided
Lori.Cunningham@polk-fl.net
863-512-1656
Those not in favor of Intelligent Design:
Frank O’Reilly (District 1)
Frank.Oreilly@polk-fl.net
863-647-1390
Brenda Reddout (District 4)
Brenda.Reddout@polk-fl.net
863-324-0127
You can use this link to email all 7 School board members.
Please be respectful - remember we are not criticizing their beliefs, merely pointing out that there is another, just as legitimate, theory that should be included into the curriculum. Please leave a comment and tell us about your conversations with the School Board. Thank you!
The Ledger article can be found here.
*update* 12/11/07 - Their local newspaper published a story about our campaign here.
Makes me I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round that just won’t stop. Will be having nightmares soon!
“I will wager that the Church of FSM can produce more academic endorsements for our theory than Intelligent Design proponents can for theirs.”
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I for one wouldn’t accept that bet bobby (:))
Why is that there are things that can’t be taught because they might be “offensive” to “some people”? I’m sorry, but this is absolutely ridiculous. The First Amendment in the US has evolved to not only keep the state out of the church(es), but to keep the church(es) out of the state as well. This is just beyond belief…and I’m sorry Ms. Sellers, but evolution and ID do not go together. If you would like to see ID taught in schools, then perhaps you and the rest of the Polk County School Board should consider instituting a religion/philosphy class for students. But keep ID out of the science classroom!! (I have strong feelings on this, as I had a science teacher in high school, who, though a very nice woman, felt it was necessary to take it upon herself to teach us why evolution is wrong.)
I’m not too worried about this one. If they decided to mandate ID in curricula the Dover verdict would serve as a fresh and very strong precedent. However, it is a bit depressing that, despite the Dover verdict, christians won’t learn. What will it take for these lunatics to wise up?
Awesome, now the zealots show up near where I leave. I think I’m going to have to bring them some pamplets (dressed in pirate regalia of course) about the FSM the next time I decide to head towards Orlando/St. Cloud.
@DPG–I do agree the Dover case is some pretty strong ammo against teaching ID in the science classroom. And this is a possible change in the *state* law, not just the school district itself. Like the article said, if they don’t like this possible change in more rigorous science curriculum, they’ll have to fight it in court. Still, it’s aggravating that there are still so many people who feel the desire to mix science and religion.
“Evolution is offensive to a lot of people.”
Then let’s stop teaching the Holocaust in history. It’s uncomfortable and offensive to some people. While we’re at it, let’s stop teaching in general. We might expose people accidentally to topics they find offensive. Let’s drop education and learning and go back to hunting and gathering.
I still see no one has confonted these board members yet, just mabye, if we all tell them about the FSM, they might just split the class into 3 sections. ID, FSM and logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.
Intelligent designer are merely the evolved version of the primitive creationism(es).
“I would want to balance it with the fact that we may live in a universe created by a supreme being as well.”
Sounds like she’s open to FSMism being taught right alongside the other two isms.
~oïo~ FSM
I feel that this board is offensive towards me. Now what?
hunting is offensive to vegetarians. lets just gather stuff, packrats FTW
Do we have the phone numbers for Mr. O’Reilly and Ms. Reddout? They might be interested in arguing our point that FSMism and the views on creation of religions other than Christianity be taught.
I’m putting this in somewhat childish terms, but there is evidence all around us that we can see and touch (and smell and taste, if we’re so inlcined) that supports the scientific theory of evolution. Fossils, fruit flies, bugs in amber, peas, etc, etc, etc. We can all see this evidence if we look. Evolution is a fact.
Why is it that so many humans would choose to believe in a god or gods that can never be seen and are never heard, to the exclusion of scientific evidence supporting other ideas? Answer: because a lot of people are lazy, ignorant, irrational, and/or insane. There is no reliably recorded instance in which a deity has publicly proclaimed its presence in a booming voice, are has gone strolling down a street for everyone to see. Perhaps “the lord works in mysterious ways”, but I don’t. If god doesn’t have the decency to present itself to me objectively in all its anthropomorphic glory, then I have no reason to believe it exists. This also applies to unicorns, rational fundamentalists, and 40 foot dildos.
And by the way, there is a strong distinction between theories regarding the origin of life and evolution. Evolution is a fact (have I mentioned that?)
While we introduce ID, why not bring in other less-than-scientific theories. We could spend tax-payers’ dollars on having our kids learn Astrology as required curiculum. Or Ether theory. Or whatever. After all, those have just as much “science” behind them as ID.
Here’s an interesting tid bit published in WIKIPEDIA under the intelligent design entry.
Political appointees at NASA have prohibited their scientists from publicly discussing the any data which is explained by the age of the universe because it would contradict the biblical version of the universe’s age.
Further, government climatologists are forbidden from discussing their data regarding global warming because it may reference data tens or hundred’s of thousands of years old.
Don;t you feel relieved we have an evangelical christian in the white house.
I can only imagine this is going to end up like Roe V. Wade where it will ultimately end up in the hands of APPOINTED Supreme court judges. The question is whether or not the appointer is smart enough to to nominate those who recognize the danger of blending religion and state affairs. FSM help us all!!
I just sent them an email, voicing my opinions. I sure do hope that they read it!
Obviously very few people in Polk County watch “NOVA”, otherwise they wouldn’t be blindly setting themselves up for complete, total public embarrassment and humiliation. They are taking up the mantle from the Kansas School Board of Laughing Stock Of America. Ironic, isn’t it, how those supposedly in charge of education have such panache for learning nothing…
This school board should be congratulated for taking up the ID banner, and championing the right of their students to be exposed to competing viewpoints. Vive le Difference! How else can this commitment to fearless educational values be implemented?
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1. All classroom instruction should be bi-lingual, so that students can be equally exposed to both English and Spanish, free to make up their own minds as which they believe is most correct for completing assignments and use in their adult lives.
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2. Science teachers will “teach the controversy” between Alchemy and Chemistry, giving equal time to both in Chemistry units. Chemistry is merely the secular offshoot of Alchemy, which enjoyed a long and respected tenure in European history. Many notable and pious men were alchemists, which is good enough for me. In order to Leave No Florida Child Behind, students will be exposed to the periodic table of elements, but advised that it is by no means complete, and therefore, of dubious value. They will also be required to transform lead into gold for their final exam, and provided with 17th century translations of medieval occult texts as transmutation “bibles”.
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3. Music students will no longer be constrained to learn “music theory”. Since Western classical music is offensive to some, each student will have the option to construct an independent study which best conforms to his or her existing taste. Southern US composers such as Toby Keith and Trick Daddy will be given equal consideration with French elitists such as Claude Debussy or Joseph-Maurice Ravel.
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4. Math students will no longer be limited to “theories” they may find offensive, such as “Algebra” (developed by Muslims!), “Game Theory” (why are they playing games in school?), “Homology Theory” (keep our kids safe from these perverts!), “Proof Theory” (can they prove it or is it just a theory? Liberals are so stupid!).