Florida Senate Committee Approves Bill Allowing Anti-Evolution Theories In Class

The Tampa Tribune reports that opponents of Florida's recently adopted science education standards took their first step in the legislature yesterday to counter the State Board of Education guidelines that specifically call for the teaching of evolution. (See prior posting.) The Senate Education Committee, by a vote of 4-1, approved S. 2962, Sen. Ronda Storms "Academic Freedom" bill that would permit public school teachers to "present scientific information relevant to the full range of views on biological and chemical origins." It would also prohibit penalizing students for holding particular views on evolution. The bill now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.