Florida Citizens for Science

A bill filed in the Florida senate that could significantly impact science education if it becomes law is now referred to four committees. The bill would allow school districts to forgo the state academic standards if they want to adopt their own set of standards as long as they are as “rigorous” as the state’s. And if a school district develops their own science standards, they must adhere to this requirement: “Controversial theories and concepts shall be taught in a factual, objective, and balanced manner.” Of course, we know the “controversial theories” would be evolution and climate change.

Senate Bill 330 will need to be approved by these four senate committees:

• Education 
• Innovation, Industry, and Technology
• Appropriations
• Rules

Follow the links to each committee website to learn what senators serve on each. It’s not too early to start contacting them to urge them to vote no on this bill.

For details on why Florida Citizens for Science opposes this bill, see our issues page: “Controversial Theories/Rigorous Standards” Bills 2019.

Historical note: this same bill was filed last year and was only referred to three committees: Education, Appropriations, and Rules. It was never considered or voted on in any of those committees.

There are several items in the news of interest to us here at Florida Citizens for Science. We’ll start with the budding coverage of a bill filed in our state legislature that could directly impact science education here in the Sunshine State. (See our issues page “Controversial Theories/Rigorous Standards” Bills 2019 for all the gory details about the bill.)

From the Tampa Bay Times: Education bills continue to mount as Florida legislative session nears.

SB 330, by Sen. Dennis Baxley, would allow school districts to adopt their own academic standards, as long as they are more “rigorous” than the state minimum standards. Among other things, the bill — a return of Baxley’s SB 996 from 2018 — calls for the teaching of “controversial” science theories and concepts in a “factual, objective and balanced manner.” Such language has raised concerns within the Florida Citizens for Science, which sees this measure as a way to challenge climate science and evolution without ever mentioning them by name.

From the National Center for Science Education: A new antiscience bill in Florida

Although there is no indication in the bill about which “theories and concepts” are deemed to be “controversial,” much less any guidance about adjudicating disputes about which are and which are not, it is suggestive that the bill’s sole sponsor, Dennis Baxley (R-District 12), has a history of antievolution advocacy.

On a different subject, news stories have been popping up about teacher shortages in Florida schools, with science and math topping the list. WUSF reports: Science, English, Math Teachers In Short Supply in Florida Public Schools

The annual report points to issues such as a scarcity of certified teachers in subject areas such as general science, physics and chemistry when compared to fields such as elementary education. Also, it details factors such as teacher-education programs turning out relatively few science and math teachers.

And, finally, we’re also interested in a bill filed in our state legislature that would mandate that all public schools offer a bible elective course. From the Orlando Sentinel: Bible study as mandatory elective in Florida public schools? Orlando pastor says that’s dangerous

The language of the bill and Daniels’ history on the subject of religion and government was enough of a red flag for David Williamson, who is the co-founder for the Central Florida Free Thought Community for humanists and skeptics.

“I don’t think that the pastor representative Kim Daniels has the intention of teaching about religion objectively. I think she has to put that in that bill so that it gets voted on favorably and it passes the Florida legislature,” Williamson said.

He also pointed to the controversial topic of evolution versus creationism in science classes as another roadblock toward making Bible classes a mandatory elective in Florida.

Stay tuned for updates on these stories and more in the coming weeks.

Ahhh, winter break. I slept in this morning, leisurely checked a few things off my errands to-do list, and didn’t worry about waiting for the class change bell to use the bathroom. Now that I’m relaxed and temporarily free of lesson planning and grading responsibilities, it’s time to step back to take in the wider view outside of my classroom of what’s in store for science education in Florida in the coming months.

Or maybe I should just take a nap.

But no, you and I are forced to soldier on. We’re in a state where constant vigilance is needed to defend against ignorance and ideology raining down from Tallahassee. Let’s get to it.

First, take time to review developments reported in my most recent blog posts. In “It’s Going to be Ugly” I highlight how the next Florida legislative session is shaping up as known and potential anti-science lawmakers were re-elected or took on leadership positions. In “Textbook censoring, global warming denying creationists have been given the keys” I document how the increasingly well connected activist group Florida Citizens Alliance now has members advising our governor-elect on education matters. And in “Florida is once again ground zero for antiscience” I discuss a feature length magazine article that shows how the Florida Citizens Alliance operates.

Now that you have the background, let’s move forward. The National Center for Science Education, as always, has our back and is keeping the rest of the country informed about Florida science education issues: Trouble on the horizon in Florida? In that write-up they quote Education Week’s report on our governor-elect’s education transition team: Coming Soon to Florida: More Challenges for Districts’ Science Curricula?

Of course, it is not clear yet what DeSantis, Flaugh, or Donalds have in mind specifically for education. But at the very least, the dots are lining up here for a wave of new challenges. As I reported in my earlier story on the FCA, what separates it from other anti-evolution efforts is that these activists are working through the grassroots and training local activists in many counties. It’s not a stretch to assume that, with Flaugh and Donalds in a more powerful state role, people who share their views will feel emboldened to express them locally.

It’s possible that they will seek changes to the state textbook-adoption process, too; the FCA, in fact, backed a second bill that would have altered it, but that bill got stuck after legislators focused all their attention on school safety following the Parkland tragedy in February.

The Florida Citizens Alliance folks on the education transition team are now becoming lightning rods as the Florida Phoenix notes in: Critics want Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis to kick off 2 members of education advisory committee. The article gives examples of the many times the Alliance has tried to censor textbooks, such as:

A “flawed” environmental science book in the analysis has “extensive errors” and includes “major chapters that teach man-made global warming and evolution as proven science.”

Flaugh, of Florida Citizens’ Alliance, said he was not aware of the parent group that is calling for his ouster from the DeSantis transition committee. But he said that his organization has been criticized before, adding “Progressives are very upset that we’re defending our Constitutional rights.”

The Miami New Times followed up with a story of their own: Far-Right Anti-Climate Change, Anti-“Islam” Group Adivising DeSantis on Education. The story begins:

The Florida Citizens’ Alliance regularly rails against what it calls “cultural Marxism,” “LGBTQ values,” and “Islam” in Florida’s public schools. If a teacher happens to mention that the Founding Fathers were all white men and that many owned slaves, you bet the Alliance would get angry. The group also loses its collective mind when America’s obvious history of racism or climate change comes up in the classroom.

Two group members, naturally, are now “advising” Ron DeSantis, Florida’s newly elected governor.

We certainly don’t have to trust these news outlets’ analysis of the Alliance’s efforts. We can read it all for ourselves. For instance, their recently updated Objectionable Materials Report is a long list of literature and textbooks the group finds unsuitable for classroom use. Here is an excerpt from their science page:

Each of these 7 science books teaches evolution and man-made global warming as a fact not a theory as required by Florida Statutes. Much of the science of Darwin’s theory of evolution has been proven incorrect or at least seriously faulty by recent scientists in many fields: Paleontology, Genetics, Mathematics, Biology and more.

“HMD Environmental Science”, 2013 by Houghton, Mifflin, and Harcourt, Collier County
9 extensive errors, including major chapters that teach man-made global warming and evolution as proven science. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Essentials of Oceanography”, 2018, Pearson
Total miss-representation of Global warming and Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Florida Biology”, 2017, McGraw Hill
Total miss-representation of Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Human Genetics”, 2018 McGraw Hill
Total miss-representation of Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Elevate Science Earth”, 2019 Pearson
Total miss-representation of Global warming and Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Earth Science, Regular and Honors”, 2015, Pearson
Total miss-representation of Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

“Elevate Science Life”, 2019, Pearson
Total miss-representation of Evolution. This book is so flawed that it is not recommended for adoption.

And the Alliance has issued their 2019 Legislative Agenda. They want to modify existing textbook adoption laws yet again in an attempt to force school districts across the state to reject materials the Alliance doesn’t like. And they want to resurrect last year’s bill that would have allowed school districts to develop their own education standards as long as they are equal to or better than the state standards. There were a lot of problems what that bill last year. See our issues page about it: “Controversial Theories” Bills 2018. Thank goodness it never even got a committee hearing. One of the most significant issues was that it included a “controversial theories” section:

62 (b) Science standards must establish specific curricular
63 content for, at a minimum, the nature of science, earth and
64 space science, physical science, and life science. Controversial
65 theories and concepts must be taught in a factual, objective,
66 and balanced manner.

As strong advocates for quality science education, we here at Florida Citizens for Science are deeply troubled to see well known anti-science activists on the governor-elect’s education transition team. It’s alarming that people who aggressively challenged established scientific concepts like climate change and evolution in textbooks are being elevated to positions of potentially greater influence.

I know it’s the holidays. I know you are enjoying time with friends and family. But can you spare some time and effort to help prepare for what’s coming? Contact me. Let’s talk.

Florida Governor-elect Ron DeSantis released the names of those who will be on his education transition committee. Included is a representative from the textbook-censoring, global warming denying, creationist outfit Florida Citizens Alliance.

Among the participants are former Brevard County superintendent Desmond Blackburn, Step Up for Students founder John Kirtley, Charter Schools USA CEO Jonathan Hage, Florida Citizens Alliance director Keith Flaugh, Hillsborough County schools lobbyist Connie Milito, Pensacola State College president Edward Meadows, and former Collier County School Board member Erika Donalds.

Just as a reminder, Step Up for Students operates the state’s largest tax credit scholarship program, and the Florida Citizens Alliance has led several efforts to remove textbooks from schools. Donalds led the Constitution Revision Commission effort to create a state charter school authorizer and set school board term limits.

Flaugh and his Alliance have been on our radar for several years. Our most recent clash was when he tried to bully (and I am using the word bully literally) the Collier County school board, with the help of then school board member Donalds, into tossing out a few science textbooks under adoption consideration. Read all about it here: What I did during my summer break, Collier County edition.

So, review that entire list of 41 people on the transition team while keeping in mind this DeSantis campaign promise:

DeSantis also promises a “complete review” of curriculum standards, including a renewed emphasis on civics education and the United States Constitution in those classes.

If it is indeed a “complete review” then I have no doubt that evolution and climate change will be heavily scrutinized in the science standards, especially if Flaugh and Donalds have any role.

Add this to the other recent news about who has been chosen to lead the Florida House Education Committee and who has won reelection to the Florida legislature: It’s Going to be Ugly.

Strap in. The next few years are going to be a wild ride.

As the dust settles from the mid-term elections, we’re starting to see what is in store for science education and education in general here in the Sunshine State. It’s going to be ugly.

In preparation for the next Florida legislative session, due to start March 5, 2019, House and Senate committees are taking shape. The first shot aimed at public education is who has been selected to chair the House education committee. Read a little about “Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, a Mount Dora Republican who has championed such issues as home schooling and tax credit scholarships, and has been an ally to conservative education groups and their concerns.” She was home-schooled, presumably having never sat in a public school classroom, and she is earning a degree from Liberty University online, an evangelical Christian university in Virginia. She also was active in TeenPact.

Can you see where this next state legislative session is headed?

Sen. Dennis Baxley easily won reelection. Baxley, “a Southern Baptist, said his faith is the foundation of his public service and proposed that ‘controversial theories’ such as evolution be taught in a ‘balanced’ manner.” Here is our analysis and history of that controversial theories bill. Do you think we’ll see that bill or something similar again?

Rep. Byron Donalds also won reelection. He “will continue to focus on education issues in Tallahassee after winning re-election in House District 80 Tuesday night.” He was a driving force behind bills that would change how schools’ instructional materials are selected and challenged. One of those bills became law and resulted in lots of headaches for school boards across the state.

Rep. Kim Daniels also won reelection. Daniels was a sponsor of the Religious Expression in Schools law that we here at Florida Citizens for Science opposed in 2017. She was also responsible for the In God We Trust law that requires all Florida public schools to prominently display that motto.

And we know that the Florida Citizens’ Alliance is on their conservative crusade, as we noted a little while ago. “Prominent on [Florida Citizens’ Alliance’s] expanded menu of concerns was climate change, and humanity’s presumed role in driving it. […] ‘Unfortunately, what it’s become is indoctrination and not education. That’s our major problem,'”

Are you ready to get to work?

We appreciate when you like and share our social media posts. That helps with awareness, so please keep doing so. But if that’s all you’re doing, then we’re in trouble. We need to take your energy that went into those incredibly tight, recent elections that are so close that they’re going into recount and focus it on standing firm in defense of science education in the coming months. There is no doubt that we’re going to be very busy soon. We need your advice, your effort, your time, your commitment to science education, your connections, and your experience. Without your participation in this fight, science education, and Florida education in general, will erode and this state’s students will pay the price.

Contact us. Today.

M.I.T.’s online magazine Undark recently published a deep dive story about efforts to undermine the teaching of global warming facts in public schools: In America’s Science Classrooms, the Creep of Climate Skepticism: Conservative groups are working hard to challenge the teaching of mainstream climate science in schools. In Florida, they’ve found a winning strategy.

The writer, Sean Patrick Cooper, spent quite a bit of time with me in my empty classroom on a Friday afternoon. We had a long, wide-ranging conversation about the importance of teaching the facts about climate change in schools and how it’s a tough, uphill battle. Students come into school with no significant background in the subject other than possibly some misconceptions passed down through family and social media. They don’t really know anything about the basics of greenhouse gases let alone any of the more complicated concepts. When I teach it, I have to start at a very elementary level and build up from there as fast as I can. There’s surprisingly little time devoted to it in our curriculum map. Of course, I mention climate change throughout the year since it ties in with so many other concepts in my freshman environmental science class. But the time that is devoted to it alone is only a week or two.

Something that didn’t make it into the story was this fact: depending on what school district and what school a student attends, there is a good chance that the student won’t take a science class that teaches the facts of climate change. Students in my school need three science credits to graduate. So, a student could start off with the state-required biology course, then move on to chemistry and physics. And that student will thus never encounter a single science-based global warming lesson.

And what makes it even tougher is the outside opposition, which is what the Undark story goes into excellent detail about. Most of the story is set here in Florida because of the law we now have that requires all school districts to bend over backwards to hear out any citizen’s complaints about instructional materials. We fought hard against the bill as it progressed through the state legislature and onto the governor’s desk but ultimately lost. See our page “Challenges to evolution & climate change in textbooks” for an overview and links to our many blog posts written as events happened.

The Undark story has a clear message for us that we need to heed.

Prominent on [Florida Citizens’ Alliance’s] expanded menu of concerns was climate change, and humanity’s presumed role in driving it. […] “Unfortunately, what it’s become is indoctrination and not education. That’s our major problem,”

The outcome matters: Whoever wins over the minds of this upcoming cohort of American voters will, to a large extent, shape the nation’s policies on climate change for decades to come. Surveys suggest that more Americans than ever now understand the human-climate change connection, but as voters head to the polls for the 2018 midterm elections, more than 40 percent still remain unconvinced that climate change is predominantly caused by human activity. The best way to nudge that number higher, conservative groups seem to be wagering, is to target youngsters in America’s science classrooms.

Leaders of the Florida Citizens’ Alliance said that with the new bill in place, they will be in a position to pilot and test different strategies deployed at school board meetings. They plan to refine those strategies with challenges across all of the state’s 67 public school districts.

In other words, the fight has only just begun.

The alliance was also featured in a recent Education Week piece: Citizen Activists Push to Revise History Textbooks.

What separates the Florida Citizens Alliance and Truth in Textbooks from earlier mom-and-pop approaches to reviewing materials is that these groups are trying to significantly expand their reach, training local activists in districts across many states. The approach is powered by some of the same populism that has boiled up in both political parties, in the sense that activists are relying on local citizens rather than professional historians to review the books.

[…]

The Florida group now sends advocacy emails to about 20,000 people and maintains a network of activists in about seven of the state’s counties who keep tabs on local classroom materials adoptions; they are trying to build that number up to 15.

About 60 Florida activists have been trained through the Truth in Textbooks’ training process, now conducted mainly online, to look for bias, “half truths,” factual errors, and omissions in the books.

And then there is this story in PBS’s Frontline: Dueling Books Compete to Educate Kids on Climate Change.

The group that mailed books and DVDs arguing that global warming isn’t real to science teachers around the country last year is redoubling its efforts: It plans to publish and distribute a new book — this one aimed at both teachers and students — in the coming months.

Fortunately, we’re not alone in this fight. We work closely with the National Center for Science Education and their awesome network of science defenders. And over the past few years we developed great working relationships with other groups, eventually joining with them to form Florida Education Defenders.

But did you take note of the Alliance’s main tactic? They have volunteer activists set up all across the state ready to harass their local school boards about any and all textbooks under consideration for adoption. They have teams devoted to recruiting state lawmakers to their cause, resulting in 2018’s attempt to pass yet another law about textbooks and a nefarious “controversial theories” bill. You can guarantee they are already cooking up bills for 2019’s session.

Science education in Florida obviously needs defenders. Are you ready to step up?