With the public comment period
officially over, the 58 educators and scientists who drafted Florida's
proposed science standards are getting back together to see how - if at
all - they want to revise the recommendations before sending them to
the State Board of Education.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the panel will meet for three days this week to pore over the many responses that residents submitted - more than 10,000 in all - and discuss any wording changes. Much of the public debate has been over one item relating to evolution, although the standards include a plethora of other subjects.

Overall, educators and scientists have applauded the changes, which they say would move Florida's science education years ahead. But many members of the general public have attacked the evolution standard, saying it should include faith-based teachings.

Miami Herald columnist Fred Grimm laments
that such heated discussion over just one aspect has launched Florida into the "vacuum of irreconcilable beliefs" that only hurts Florida's school children.

The State Board is set to make its decision on Feb. 19.