A lengthy article in the Florida Baptist Witness doesn’t come right out and say it, but the source of the anti-evolution resolutions seems to be:
Kendall [Kim Kendall, a leading activist opposing the standards and a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville] agreed with the idea of academic freedom in the classroom, she told the Witness in a later e-mail.
According to Kendall, the school districts in St. Johns, Baker and Taylor counties have composed resolutions against the proposed approach to teaching evolution. The resolutions request that the SBOE maintain academic freedom and integrity in the classrooms.
“After observing the framers and writers as they ‘refreshed’ the standards, we were disappointed to say the least,” Kendall told the Witness via email. “But we feel hopeful with our 7-member SBOE which will be making the final decision.”
Kendall said the president overseeing the school districts plans to send a copy of the resolution to further awareness in other districts and provide a template for them to use should they choose to do so.
Acknowledging that other districts may not follow suit, Kendall said she urges residents of other counties to encourage their school boards to form their own resolutions.
The only article I could find regarding the St. John’s resolution:
http://staugustine.com/stories/011608/news_txt01_039.shtml
Unanimous! Every single board member thinks they know science better than those involved in creating the standards. I wonder what kind of qualifications they have, and why I bothered getting a degree.
So what’s the status on the state fossil? I read online that it is still under consideration. Might be a nice theme to include in letters to editor about standards issue. Fossils, especially pretty sand dollars, have a concreteness to them that most folks will appreciate. Good luck on this.
See what they are saying at Uncommon Descent. They can’t tell a satirical straw man built by IDers from real “Darwinists”. Look quickly, before they sweep their foolishness under the rug.
http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/spread-the-word-evolution-is-a-scientific-fact-2/#comments
By the way, don’t bother to comment there; they block even respectfully worded dissenting opinions. They should rename the site “Uncommon Dissent”. I guess they are afraid to “teach the controversy”. Hypocrites.
The Baptist Witness article Brandon led us to was published on Jan, 17th – Let’s give them the benefit of a doubt (follow me here) – …. “Kendall said the president overseeing the school districts plans to send a copy of the resolution to further awareness in other districts and provide a template for them to use should they choose to do so.”….
(the president right now is Jeanne Dozier Lee County
the Pres. elect is Bev Slough St. Johns County)
– this is the earliest date mentioned in the article -… ” the final public hearing was Jan 8th”… – So we must assume that Kendall’s information came to the reporter AFTER Jan.8th.
Taylor County passed their resolution on Nov. 20th and Baker County on Dec. 17th. How could they POSSIBLY be worded so similarly? Hmmm? Maybe there were some back room meetings going on in violation of the Sunshine Law?
1) All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, at which official acts are to be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, and no resolution, rule, or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at such meeting. The board or commission must provide reasonable notice of all such meetings.
(2) The minutes of a meeting of any such board or commission of any such state agency or authority shall be promptly recorded, and such records shall be open to public inspection. The circuit courts of this state shall have jurisdiction to issue injunctions to enforce the purposes of this section upon application by any citizen of this state.
(b) Any person who is a member of a board or commission or of any state agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision who knowingly violates the provisions of this section by attending a meeting not held in accordance with the provisions hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Baker County signed theirs on Dec. 17th as well
Hamilton County, Dec. 17th