Science standards will call evolution ''scientific theory''

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A sharply divided State Board of Education decreed today that evolution is a “scientific theory,” not necessarily a fact, that Florida school children should be exposed to -- in the hope that they will be curious and explore science thoroughly.

Chairman T. Willard Fair of Miami cast the deciding vote in a 4-3 decision that ended an hour of lively debate. For an hour earlier, the board held a final public hearing, listening to 20 evenly divided advocates on the evolution issue.

The state adopted new science curriculum standards in response to poor showings on national science exams by state students and an economy dominated by high-tech jobs that take scientific knowledge. The state’s old standards didn’t mention evolution.

A panel of 68 experts, heavy with science teachers and scientists, drew up detailed, age-specific standards that described evolution as the basic “concept underlying all of biology.” The standards said evolution was supported by “multiple forms of scientific evidence.”

In a series of public hearings, several conservative religious leaders and parents objected to evolution being “the” accepted standard. The compromise language approved today cites “the scientific theory of evolution,” making it officially a theory rather than a settled fact.

Board member Roberto Martinez said members were caving in to pressure from fundamentalists who, however they phrased it, wanted to get “creationism” and “intelligent design” into the public schools. But board members Kathleen Shanahan and Linda Taylor said there were other theories – not just religious ones – that students should explore in addition to evolution.