Short Nerd Chief

Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences.  Florida, which has consistently been ranked among the worst states for science education since its current standards were introduced in 1996 (in large part because the standards were driven by rural Floridians for whom certain topics conflict with their Young Earth Creationist worldview), recently joined the 19th century and officially added evolution to its state science curriculum (although students won’t be tested on it until at least 2012).  Religious fundamentalists couldn’t leave well enough alone, of course, and pulled out the old canard about evolution being “only a theory”:

The divided vote came as board members argued over an eleventh-hour amendment that requires the standards to refer to the “scientific theory of evolution” instead of “evolution.”

The amendment, which supporters refer to as the “academic freedom proposal,” was unveiled late Friday. Education Commissioner Eric Smith recommended the amendment, which won praise from religious groups and conservative lawmakers….

The changes were hailed as a victory by a group of parents, educators and lawmakers who insisted that evolution was far from an iron-clad fact and deserved critical analyses in the classroom.

“There are many unanswered questions about the origin of life,” said state Rep. Marti Coley, a Marianna Republican who said last week she would push a bill that would require evolution be taught as a “theory.”

People whose primary science education comes from Genesis instead of Gould often think of “theory” as meaning “just this side of made-up” and probably view this as a victory.  However, the curriculum refers to the scientific theory of evolution, and will require students to learn what scientists consider a theory to be. And to scientists, theory does not mean conjecture; the same area of inquiry can be both “theory” and “fact.”  Here’s how the National Academy of Sciences describes it:

Is Evolution a Theory or a Fact?

It is both. But that answer requires looking more deeply at the meanings of the words “theory” and “fact.”

In everyday usage, “theory” often refers to a hunch or a speculation. When people say, “I have a theory about why that happened,” they are often drawing a conclusion based on fragmentary or inconclusive evidence.

The formal scientific definition of theory is quite different from the everyday meaning of the word. It refers to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence.

Many scientific theories are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them substantially. For example, no new evidence will demonstrate that the Earth does not orbit around the Sun (heliocentric theory), or that living things are not made of cells (cell theory), that matter is not composed of atoms, or that the surface of the Earth is not divided into solid plates that have moved over geological timescales (the theory of plate tectonics). Like these other foundational scientific theories, the theory of evolution is supported by so many observations and confirming experiments that scientists are confident that the basic components of the theory will not be overturned by new evidence. However, like all scientific theories, the theory of evolution is subject to continuing refinement as new areas of science emerge or as new technologies enable observations and experiments that were not possible previously.

Thus the law of unintended consequences.  By insisting that evolution be called a scientific theory, these 21st century luddites will reinforce the massive scientific record buttressing the theory of evolution (as always, go to talk.origins if you need more information, lots and lots of information).

So we all win. Florida students win because they can now learn actual science.  Truth wins, as it does any time backward-thinkers are hoist on their own petard.  Speaking of winners, here’s the winner of the Christian Who Actually Gets It Award, one Rev. Copeland:

“Children should learn science in science class, not religion disguised as science,” said Brant Copeland, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee.