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Public commenter urges teaching 'creationism' alongside evolution as state reviews CPALM standards
Summary
At a Highlands County School Board meeting, public commenter Larry Overfield said he contacted the Florida Department of Education and a state work group updating CPALM standards and urged that creationism be taught alongside evolution so students would have 'a choice.' Board members expressed interest in reviewing the materials he receives.
Larry Overfield, a member of the public, used the meeting’s public-comment period to say he had reached the Florida Department of Education and learned of a state work group revising CPALM standards. "I don't wanna see evolution cut out of teaching," he said, "but I'd like to see Bridal Creationism taught next to it so that our students can have a choice and be taught rather than indoctrinated."
Overfield said a department staffer, identified in his remarks as Steve Walker, will share information and an email address for public participation in the work group’s virtual meetings; he said he plans to join and return to the next school-board meeting with details. No board action was taken at the meeting on curriculum changes.
Board members responded during later remarks with interest in seeing the materials Overfield receives. Miss Radonski said she supports "the addition of adding those, the creationism into the standards because we I do support our kids being taught, educated." Miss Howerton thanked Overfield for his persistence in contacting the department.
The remarks are part of public comment and do not change district policy; the board did not vote on any curricular amendment during this meeting. The superintendent or board staff did not provide additional technical or legal analysis of how state standards revisions would affect local classroom instruction during the meeting.
