Florida schools label evolution a theory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Florida school officials have voted to adopt curriculum language specifying that evolution will be taught as a "theory" in public schools.

The Florida Board of Education voted 4-3 Tuesday to approve a measure that labels evolution and other scientific laws as theory. The Miami Herald said the decision was motivated in part to mollify complaints from religious advocates who had wanted rules allowing classroom debate on the validity of evolution.

The Herald said the issue raised strong reactions from the crowd at the meeting, as well as debate among board members -- some of whom saw the standard as a smokescreen to bring creationism into the classroom.

The basics of evolution are taught in Florida starting in the sixth grade and accelerate in ninth-grade science classes to include genetics and prehistoric human ancestors.