TALLAHASSEE -- It's called the ''Academic Freedom'' bill and it's supposed to give teachers the freedom to teach the ''full range of scientific views'' about evolution.

But should teachers have the freedom to teach the ''full range of scientific views'' about sexual education?

Republican Sen. Ronda Storms said that Democratic proposal went too far and had it voted down on the Senate floor Thursday, saying the sex-ed measure not only didn't belong on her evolution bill, it could lead to ``prematurely deflowering kindergartners and first- and second-graders.''

Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat, countered that the sex-education bill had to be ''age appropriate'' and that it would help stop sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Adapting Storms' language in previous evolution debates, Deutch said the bill simply gives students ``the opportunity to ask about the scientific information.''

TENSE MOMENTS

From there, the debate over the measure, which could be voted out of the chamber by next week, became tense.

After trying to show that Storms, a Christian conservative, is only concerned with ''academic freedom'' when it comes to evolution, they tried to cast doubt on her proposal as a backdoor way of teaching intelligent design, the argument that life is too complex to have come about without a designer. A Pennsylvania federal court in 2005 banned intelligent design from science classrooms for being religious in nature.

Proponents of intelligent design say their theory isn't religious, though nearly every adherent says the intelligent designer is God. Storms' language is based on proposed legislation pushed by intelligent design supporters.

So Democrats asked: Could teachers teach intelligent design under the Academic Freedom bill? Storms wouldn't say yes or no.

Her answer, instead, came straight from the text of her bill: 'You may teach, specifically: `scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed curriculum regarding chemical or biological evolution.' ''

Storms at one point added: ''The bottom line is if it is not scientifically based and if it is not scientifically relevant, the answer is no. If it is, the answer is yes.'' She also pointed out that the bill says ''you may not teach religious doctrine.'' When pressed about intelligent design by Democratic Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise, Storms said: ``Asked and answered.''

But it wasn't, said Democratic leader Steve Geller of Cooper City. When he started to ask her personal view about intelligent design, Republican Senate President Ken Pruitt of Port St. Lucie interrupted: ``Sen. Storms, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to.''

Geller continued: ''Do you believe intelligent design meets the criteria in your bill,'' which says scientific information is ``germane current facts, data and peer-reviewed research.''

`AFRAID'

Said Storms: ``I absolutely believe that evolution should be taught in public schools. I also believe that we should teach the full range of critical analysis of evolution.''

Storms said her bill was designed to counteract the ''dogmatic'' new state science standards requiring for the first time that evolution be taught in science classrooms. She said ``people are afraid. Teachers are afraid. And students, by the way, are afraid.''

Geller objected, noting her bill says the ''Legislature finds that in many instances'' teachers and students have feared discipline or been disciplined for teaching the full range of scientific information about evolution.

When Geller asked her for names, Storms didn't have any, but said six educators who planned to talk on the topic recently weren't given the time to address a recent Senate committee.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@