Two North Florida school boards have announced they are firmly opposed to the state's proposed new science standards. The boards in Taylor and Baker counties have passed nearly identical resolutions calling on the state Board of Education to revise the standards because they give too much credence to Darwin's theory of evolution.

The Taylor County resolution, passed Nov. 20 (according to the Florida Citizens for Science blog), says the standards should be revised "so that evolution is presented as one of several theories as to how the universe was formed." The Baker County resolution, passed Dec. 17, says the standards should be revised "so that evolution is not presented as fact," according to a copy obtained by The Gradebook this week. Given the language, we can't help but wonder: How many other school boards have passed similar resolutions, or are considering doing so?

Taylor County's superintendent, Oscar Howard Jr., spoke at the public hearing on the standards last night in South Florida. According to an Associated Press report, Howard said hundreds of parents have told him they'll pull their kids out of public schools if the draft standards pass in their current form.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter