Is Florida the dumbest state in the US?

[mr blur]

I only ask...:

By NICOLA M. WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - It's not about letting religion creep into science classrooms, Sen. Ronda Storms insisted.

It's about protecting the rights of students and teachers who don't agree with the science behind Darwinian evolution, the Republican from Valrico argued before the Senate's pre-k through 12 education committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve the bill.

Despite her argument, religion kept coming up anyway, as Storms pressed for her "academic freedom" act. Her bill would allow public school teachers to present science-based alternatives to Darwin's theory of evolution, a theory written into Florida's curriculum standards and one that is held as a fundamental concept of biology by most members of the science community.

Although professors spoke in opposition to the bill and a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union said it would open the door to teaching creationism, the committee voted to move the bill forward.

<snip>

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/27/me-evolution-bill-moves-forward/

It would be interesting to hear their "science-based alternatives to Darwin's theory of evolution", don't you think? On the other hand, I guess it would mostly consist of, "Goddidit!"

[NoodleBoy]

1. it must be something in the water, because not even

the Florida Democratic Party seems to be able to discern between what a consensus is and what things that are outside that consensus are.

Anyway, I really, really hope we see a resurgence of Lysenkoism. Because, damnit, if I get my arm amputated, I'm dead sure my kids will be born with only one arm, too, and that'll show that smug bastard I have for a right elbow.

[Warpy]

2. Try living in a sauna 24/7/52. I think it fries their synapses.

I've always hated Florida for that very reason.

[moggie]

3. Oh no, it's not about religion

It's purely coincidental that the only "academic freedom" these idiots care about is the freedom to teach "Goddidit". Can you imagine this Senator supporting the freedom of a history teacher to teach a radically different focus on American history, for example?

[jberryhill]

4. If you ever take a course in legal ethics....

...you can't help but notice that most of the "interesting" cases seem to come out of Florida.

[semillama]

5. If you ever visit FARK.com ...

You'll notice that news stories from Florida have their own identifying tag.

[WoodrowFan]

6. Oklahoma?

What? Did Oklahoma lose the crown by posing nekkid in Penthouse or something???

[progressoid]

7. One doesn't want to be judgmental but...

Florida does seem to have a disproportionate amount of wackos.

[realisticphish]

8. to be fair

all the old people mean a lot of senility, and people who prey on senility