Evolution delays Fla. science curriculum

Florida's public school science curriculum won't be updated until 2008, reportedly to avoid an evolution fight until Gov. Jeb Bush leaves office.

The Miami Herald reported last month the update was likely to be delayed far beyond its originally scheduled completion of in June 2007. The curriculum review is now expected to be finished by February 2008.

Until that review is completed, Florida Education Commissioner John Winn has said he will not take a position on how the state's public schools should teach the origins of man.

Intense debates have occurred in other states concerning how public schools should handle the theory of evolution and the religiously tinged theory of intelligent design.

In a written statement last month, Bush said he's a practicing Catholic and believes God created all living creatures, but added his personal beliefs shouldn't be the basis for the state's curriculum.

The two leading Democratic candidates to replace Bush -- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith -- have opposed the teaching of intelligent design in public school science classes, the Miami Herald reported.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International