Bush adds his view on evolution debate

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Bush adds his view on evolution debate

He tries to strike balance on whether intelligent design should be taught

By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel, December 31, 2005

Tallahassee · Gov. Jeb Bush tried Friday to strike a delicate balance in the burgeoning controversy over whether intelligent design should be taught in science classes, reaffirming his Catholic faith while insisting that his personal beliefs should not dictate the state's public school standards.

But Bush also called for a "vigorous discussion of varying viewpoints in our classrooms" -- a rallying cry frequently used by supporters of intelligent design. A healthy debate of issues challenges our students' minds," Bush said in a statement issued by his office Friday morning.

In the five-paragraph statement, the Republican governor also said, "I am a practicing Catholic, and my own personal belief is God created man and all life on earth. However, I do not believe an individual's personal beliefs should be the basis for determining Florida's Sunshine State Standards."

Bush's comments come as the controversy surrounding the issue is growing.

Proponents of intelligent design argue that life is far too complex to have been the result of organisms adapting to their environments over time -- the widely accepted theory of evolution first put forth by Charles Darwin almost 150 years ago.

Instead, intelligent design supporters say, some systems in life must have been created deliberately by a designer. And they argue that such criticism of Darwinism should be taught in public school science classes.

Opponents, however, say intelligent design is nothing more than a repackaged version of creationism, which argues that God created life as described in the Bible. They say it's a hidden attempt to inject religion into public schools.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Pennsylvania drew national attention when he ruled it unconstitutional to teach intelligent design in a local school district's science classes. In a scathing, 139-page ruling that marked the first legal test for intelligent design, district court Judge John Jones III called it "a religious view, a mere relabeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory."

But many are convinced the battle will still rear its head in Florida when the state revises its Sunshine State Standards for science. Those are the guidelines local school districts must follow when they design their individual curriculum. The review was supposed to happen next year, but state officials recently announced it would be delayed until 2007 or 2008.

While the state's current science standards do not use the word "evolution," they do say that students must understand some of its basic tenets, including processes such as mutation and natural selection "that lead to adaptation in a species"

Mathew Staver, the president of the conservative Liberty Counsel, which supports teaching alternative theories to evolution, including intelligent design, said he was encouraged by Bush's comments.

"I think what Jeb Bush is stating, as I read his statement, is that he is open to having a robust debate on the issue of evolution take place in the classroom," Staver said. "That's all intelligent design advocates are asking for."

But when asked to elaborate on the comments, Russell Schweiss, a spokesman for Bush, said flatly that the governor is "not advocating for intelligent design." And he said whatever Bush's personal beliefs are, they should not influence any changes to the state's science standards.

Still, Schweiss added that teachers should be allowed to discuss the topic -- regardless of whether intelligent design is ultimately included in the standards.

"They should have the discretion to discuss other topics and also allow open discussions based upon questions students may ask," Schweiss said.

Some opponents of teaching intelligent design in science classes found the confusion disquieting.

"We shouldn't have to divine what he's saying," said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. "Really, there's no reason to be vague. Do you think it should be in science classes or not?"

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