There's been a lot of fur flying about Florida's recently passed "Evolution Academic Freedom Act," which detractors claim opens the door for the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools. Now, this bill is kind of funny. Upon reading the full text, it's readily apparent that this bill is not intended to allow the teaching of Intelligent Design, but rather to block it.

the term "scientific information" means germane current facts, data, and peer-reviewed research specific to the topic of chemical and biological evolution...

Every public school teacher in the state's K-12 school system shall have the affirmative right and freedom to objectively present 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.

That would categorically dismiss Intelligent Design or Creationism as an acceptable course of study in Florida schools. Of course, it's not what the legislature actually intended - they wanted to craft some legal fiction to allow their pseudo-science into the classroom. They just worded it in such a way as to mean the opposite of what they wanted. But that's to be expected. They've got their heads wrapped so far around this concept that ID is science that they think that the simple definition of "scientific information" covers it. Too bad this is the real world, and they just screwed the pooch.

-pb