State Board May Label Evolution Standards As 'Theory'

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Highlands Today
Published: February 19, 2008

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TALLAHASSEE (AP) The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote Tuesday whether to place the words "scientific theory of" in front of the term "evolution" in proposed science standards.

A Department of Education spokesman says the option of applying that label to all scientific theories mentioned in the new standards will be offered to the board as a possible compromise. Some opponents have urged the board to label evolution as a theory because they believe it conflicts with the biblical account of creation.

Florida's existing science standards don't mention evolution by name but require its teaching, using code words like "change over time."

But the proposed standards refer explicitly to evolution and require that it be taught in more detail.