Creationism in Schools Is All The Rage

It seems to be taken seriously as a school board candidate in the South these days you need to be a creationist. Although, some of these candidates get an "A" for their stance on sex ed, some also get an "F" for NOT keeping public education secular. Bold added below by me for emphasis.

School board candidates address issues at forum
By Kimberly C. Moore
Staff writer
Published: Sunday, August 1, 2010 at 10:53 p.m.

Eight of the 12 Alachua County School Board candidates who attended Sunday night's forum at Oak Hammock retirement community, along with stand-ins for two candidates who couldn't be there, agreed on one thing: age-appropriate sex education in schools is a must.

"One in four seniors in high school - girls - has an STD," said April Griffin, who is running for the District 1 seat. "Two hundred girls in Alachua County schools had a baby last year. A lot of parents don't want to teach them or don't know how to teach them."

Beyond that, it was an ideological free-for-all for the candidates running for the three open seats on the school board. About 100 people packed into a conference room, most of them residents in the retirement community, to listen as candidates addressed issues like the budget, creationism, sex education and merit pay for teachers.

Moderators pointed out that state funding for Alachua County schools has dropped 28 percent since the 2007-08 school year - including cuts of $17 million last year - and wanted to know what candidates would do to ensure increased funding levels.

"Florida has never, ever been kind to children in funding education," said Carol Oyenarte, who is running for the District 5 seat and helped in the effort to get a one mill increase in school funding from Alachua County taxpayers. "We're 49th in the nation. Part of that is that we just don't value education. Our community believes in education for our children. We have to keep persevering."

Many of the candidates said they would develop relationships with local lawmakers and urge them to fight for funding in the state capital.
Some of the candidates thought creationism has a place in public school education, with others saying it should be taught in a class that discusses theories or philosophies of all world religions. Some, though, said it belongs in church or at home.
"I am absolutely opposed to teaching creationism as science in our schools," said Rick Nesbit, who is running for the District 1 seat. "I would absolutely safeguard the separation of church and state."