Leave evolution out of standards, Bush says

[Thom Little]

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has portrayed himself as a friend of science, going so far as to spearhead a deal to bring an arm of the prestigious Scripps Research Institute to South Florida.

But don't count on him to defend one of the pillars of modern science.

Bush said last week he did not think Darwin's theory of evolution needed to be part of the state's public school science standards, according to an account in the Miami Herald.

"I think people have different points of view and they can be discussed in school," Bush said. "They don't need to be in the curriculum."

.......

On Tuesday, Bush spokesman Russell Schweiss clarified Bush's position somewhat: Evolution "is a scientific theory and he's not opposed to it being taught in classrooms," Schweiss said. "But he doesn't think it should necessarily be dictated in the standards."

.......

Bush, a Catholic who personally believes God created life on Earth, also thinks science teachers should have some discretion to discuss "any scientific theory," Schweiss said.


http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/28/State/Leave_evolution_out_o.shtml

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. Good idea.

Let's also leave the Pythagorean Theorem out of math and the Theory of Relativity out of physics. :eyes:

[Journeyman]

2. And let us jettison that bothersome Theory of Gravity, too. . .

damn thing only weighs us down. . .

[harlinchi]

21. OK, that was funny! n/t

[brooklynite]

31. Fool! Gravity is a LAW...

...that can only be overturned by a majority vote of the Congress, provided that 60 members of the Senate are willing to invoke cloture, subject to conference review jointly by the House and Senate, subject to amendment to cut taxes on businesses affected by the Law of Gravity...

[American liberal]

44. now THAT was funny! :) n/t

[Journeyman]

45. LOL. I thought I had that wrong. . .

but it was late and I was going for the cheap joke.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Since so many Americans believe in Astrology,

I really think that it should be taught in public schools and added to the science standards. I mean, even St. Reagan consulted an astrologer. What more of an endorsement do they need?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Speaking of which:

Ketchup shall now be classified as a vegetable.

[alarimer]

39. let's bring back alchemy

We can make a lot of gold that way.

[SharonAnn]

47. And Alchemy. Don't forget Alchemy!

[Crunchy Frog]

3. As a Catholic

he apparently disagrees with both the current and the previous Popes on the subject of evolution. Of course, I can understand his having issues with it, being as it seems to have left so many in his family behind. I mean, one only has to look at a picture of his brother for just about definitive proof of a shared lineage with chimpanzees.

[ET Awful]

9. He also disagrees with them on the death penalty and the war in Iraq

I wonder why his local diocese doesn't threaten to deny him communion as was done with another politician who shall remain nameless. . . .

[Hekate]

10. Sounds like a perfectly reasonable question for an LTTE to a FL paper

After all, if our Dem candidates can be held to a higher standard, why the silence on Repub pols who are Catholics?

Hekate

[kskiska]

22. Looks like he's one of those "cafeteria Catholics"

[dogfacedboy]

18. I attended a Catholic HS in the 70's.

We were taught evolution in science class. ZERO mention of creationism in science class. ZERO.

[saigon68]

23. THIS CHIMPANZEE?

[Canuckistanian]

26. Right, he can't point to his Catholic beliefs as justification

The Catholic church has no problems with evolutionary theory.

And the Bushes are a prime example of evolution. Their branch has survived by a strategy of stealing other people's resources while doing no actual work themselves. It's a very clever strategy and an obvious evolutionary advantage.

[Crunchy Frog]

42. It's called parasitism, and is indeed a popular evolutionary strategy.

The Bush family are like tapeworms, only more destructive.

[deadparrot]

30. I'm a lapsed Catholic,

and disagreeing with the Pope on, say, the subject of abortion, or voting choice, is enough to get you threatened with eternal damnation.

Wonder why there's such a different standard when it's a neocon with the last name of Bush. :eyes:

[Charlie Brown]

4. Jeb will be backtracking on this

It is impossible to teach biology without including the theory of evolution in the curriculum.

You might as well teach physics w/o Newton's laws of motion, or chemistry without the periodic table.

[nickgutierrez]

43. Exactly right.

Without the concept of evolution, you might as well chuck biology right out the window.

[gandalfdf]

5. This is why

I find the bush family to be complete and utter morons. Next they are going to say that the human race came from adam and eve and that the earth is only 6000 years old.

[ninkasi]

8. I didn't realize that science

is something that is determined by people's opinions. I might have points of view regarding all kinds of things, but that doesn't make my opinions scientifically valid. What are we supposed to do, junk research and take a vote? That's idiotic, but it's also what conservatives seem to believe. If we have a vote, and evolution wins, does that settle the argument, or are we going to rely on proof?

[PatriotGames]

11. Any scientific theory? Fine, but ID is not SCIENCE!

[QuettaKid]

15. Where is your "Let's Roll" pic from...?

Is that the 18 yr. old kid who drove the bus out of New Orleans...?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. That's the guy.

He's a 20-year-old guy named Jabbar Gibson. I heard he signed a movie deal regarding the whole ordeal.

[bklyncowgirl]

12. Great, Florida doesn't need doctors or scientists anyway.

After all, who in their right mind would want to study something that required a more than passing knowledge of the science of biology?

What happens when these students who have not been taught this key foundation of biological science get into college biology courses?

The anti-intellectualism of so many people in this country is frightening. What is even more frightening are the politicians, like Jeb Bush, who, although they know better, cater to it for their own short term political gain.

[ozymandius]

13. "any scientific theory"?

Maybe, next time, Jeb should apply that notion to something having to do with science instead of this hokus-pokus nonsense.

[izzie]

14. I wonder where these Bible thumper think these things came from

Their guns and trucks. They of course like science but their preachers, in their 'Caddy' on their cell phones tells them they don't. Must make the so called Bible readers sleep badly at nights. The thing on top of your neck is for thinking not a pass though for some silly person who has his hands in your pocket. I find these people to silly for words. We and they know that they live off what science has learned. Just show me one that would give up modern society.:nopity:

[dogfacedboy]

17. Why do these morons want to dumb down America so badly?

I can understand their jealousy of those with an eighth grade education, but come on !!!!

[hatrack]

20. Because poorly educated people are easy to control

Informed and skeptical citizens, as opposed to thoroughly indoctrinated "consumers" make for a hard sell when hack politicians like Jebthro hit the hustings with a big stinky bushel of bullshit decorated with shiny ribbons and American flags.

Better yet, let's seek the opinion of an even more skillful politician, shall we?

"It is enough for children to learn to count to ten and follow simple instructions." "If there are still people in Germany today who say, 'we will not join your community, we will remain as we are,' then I reply: you will pass on but after you will come a generation that knows nothing else."

--Adolf Hitler

[mcscajun]

19. Okay, fine. Let's start teaching the Flat Earth theory, too.

Plenty of people out there who still don't believe the Earth is round. We can throw the Moon Landing in 1969 out of the history books, since so many believe it's a fraud...and while we're at it, let's jettison germ theory - that should keep all those anti-vaccine folks happy...until they die of disease, anyway.

"In a 1994 nationwide survey by the American Museum of Natural History, 46 percent of 1,255 adults did not accept the theory that humans evolved from earlier species of animals. Thirty-five percent of the respondents believed humans and dinosaurs co-existed."

... --- ... ... --- ... ... --- ...
HELP! HELP! I'm trapped on a planet with little intelligent life! Faith and Reason are locked in a zero-sum game. Ignorance and close-mindedness is widespread. HELP! Where's Scotty when you REALLY need him? ET! Phone home and take me with you!
... --- ... ... --- ... ... --- ...

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[yellowcanine]

24. Discretion? If it is Biology the teacher has to teach evolution. He/she

doesn't have any discretion about that. As for "other scientific theories" Ok keeping in mind the operative word here is "scientific" and we are going to let real scientists decide what is and what isn't, aren't we, Jebbie?

[hatrack]

25. Kicking on behalf of the Chimp's "smarter" brother

:puke:

[mainer]

27. My jaw is on the floor. Research Institutes: STAY OUT OF FLORIDA!

Your kids will go to schools where "points of view" determine what is science. But scientists won't.

[seafan]

28. "Does the Gov. believe in Darwin's theory of evolution?" "Yeah, but....

The Watchdog Report asked a follow-up question: Does the governor believe in Darwin's theory of evolution?

Bush said: ``Yeah, but I don't think it should actually be part of the curriculum, to be honest with you. And people have different points of view and they can be discussed at school, but it does not need to be in the curriculum.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/13487395.htm



Oops, Jeb slipped up.

It should be obvious by now that these guys only adopt controversial notions when it suits them.... such as when it's time to inflame the base for some smoke to cover the latest sinister act by the BFEE.

If I were the head of Scripps, I'd be high-tailing it out of Jebland. Try again when this bozo is out of office.

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. This is the new approach after the Dover decision

One of the cornerstones of the Dover decision is that the disclaimer treated evolutionary theory differently from the other elements of the science curriculum. If you remove it from the science curriculum tout court, then you wouldn't have this problem. The new sly move by the creationists after their resounding and humiliating defeat of a few weeks ago.

[progressivebydesign]

32. He's just sore cuz Evolution skipped the BUSH FAMILY!! n/t

[slackmaster]

34. Evolution does not require improvement in any particular trait

I know you are being sarcastic, but your comment parallels a common misunderstanding held by evolution deniers - That evolution is a quasi-purposeful process toward "advancement" of a species.

There are fish who live in caves, that have stopped growing eyes.

Today's elephants aren't as large or as strong as some of the Pleistocene species.

The desert tortoise has lost its ability to swim.

Organisms evolve advanced traits only when it is in their best survival interests to do so.

[Megahurtz]

51. Lol!

:D

[redqueen]

33. "scientific theory"

:rofl:

Are they really that stupid, or are they just throwing red meat to people that stupid?

From what I've read of Strauss, I tend to think the latter is the case, but it's entertaining (and not unrealistic, considering his brother's intellect) to consider the other possibility.

[slackmaster]

35. They're more ignorant than stupid

A lot of people have failed to learn what science is really about. They've been pumped full of religious ideas all their lives, so they are vulnerable to the Creationist Kook-Aid that is being sold as "just another theory".

[redqueen]

38. Amend that to "willfully ignorant" and I'll agree.

No pity for those fools, being used and sheared like sheep... none whatsoever.

[Ediacara]

36. What a graceous way to lose!

"I'm going home and taking my ball with me!"

[SoCalDem]

37. School is NOT a place to "discuss" theories, jebbie..

Kids have ONE chance to learn stuff they will need for their whole lives.. They need FACTS that can be tested and verified . they can learn their "bible stories" about whales sawllowing people for months at a time, and women being conjured up from ribs, and the floating zoo from their Sunday school classes. PUBLIC schools use the common denominator "theory"..that;s a place where ALL kids, regardless of their religion or mythology can come together and learn the SAME information.. What they ultimately DO with that information, is up to them...not the government:grr:

[Rex]

40. Let's just all go back to the Dark Ages!

Fucking morans! Jeb is as stupid as his brother!

[onenote]

41. why limit it to science

Heck, let's give history teachers "discretion" to teach "theories" of history too. Why shouldn't the Holocaust deniers get a chance to have their views heard. And what about those folks who think we never really put someone on the Moon. Teaching about Neil Armstrong is fine, but it better not be part of any "standard".

Fuckin' idiots.

onenote

[rman]

46. reducing scientific theory to a "point of view"

nice going there george

[SomewhereOutThere424]

48. Tommorow's headlines will probably read:

"Bush family to battle court decision, deciding members of the first family are related to monkeys."

That's the only possible reason anyone in the bush family would attack evolution, after all. Can't have chimpee being taken off to one of his disguisting animal testing facilities he'd strengthened in his terms. Why, they may discover there's an evolutionary difference between democrats and republicans -- and it was only the republicans who were evolved from apes.

[eppur_se_muova]

49. They hate us for our freedom...to theorize!

[stepnw1f]

50. Yeah... Because Bush Missed His Shot

fucking idiot wants the country to reflect his own personal nightmare. What a sick fuck!

[flaminbats]

52. Jesus has been wrongly left out of the curriculum!!

We can't allow evolution to be "taught" in public schools, but taxpayers better kick the bill for another walk on water.

[drhilarius]

53. Hey, Jebbie, get rid of the Germ Theory of Disease, too...

that way, no one will get sick (but, then, who'll need Jesus?). You display an example of my own theory the "Hands Over Eyes, Cotton Balls in Ears, Screaming La-la-la Theory of Conservative 'Science'".