The Florida Cabinet, acting in its role as the state board of education, has approved the use of 22 high-school biology textbooks that teach the evolutionary origins of humans.
The Cabinet rejected the pleas of parents who argued that creationism should also be presented.
In addition, the Cabinet approved teaching materials for a home-economics book that some parents also protested because they discussed students’ sex roles.
At a meeting this month, parents supporting the teaching of creationism, or the biblical account of the beginnings of mankind, argued that teaching evolution alone is wrong.
According to Tim Callahan, a spokesman for the Cabinet, the parents argued that the books were “too dogmatic in the presentation of the theory of evolution” and “precluded the idea of biblical creationism.”
The books had previously been approved by the state textbook-adoption council. Districts may choose their own books, but must spend at least 50 percent of their funds on books from the state-approved list.
