Members of the coalition stressed that they are not opposing the inclusion of evolution in the science curriculum, but are opposing an orchestrated attempt to censor relevant scientific evidence regarding evolution from Florida's school children.

"If science is anything, it must be a search for the reality of the physical world we live in," said John Stemberger, President and General Counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council. "We think kids should learn about evolution, but they should learn it is a theory with evidences of both strengths and weakneses."

Fred Cutting, a member of the Framers Committee that drafted the proposed science standards provided a statement criticizing the process under which the standards were developed.  "My goal was to try and promote a curriculum that was even-handed and would present both the strengths and weaknesses of evolution.  Those attempts were met with hostility and aggressive opposition," said Cutting.  "While all of my colleagues on the Science Standards Committee were professional and collegial, many of them were intolerant and dogmatic about protecting what appears to be a closely held personal philosophical commitment over what is the best science available to Florida's students." 

While comments from the public have been received at various public hearings, that input was largely ignored by the Committee and all communication now to the seven voting members of the State Board of Education regarding this issue is being filtered and redirected. To date there has been no public testimony before the members of the Board who are voting on this matter.  Participants in the press conference urged the Florida Board of Education to allow at least 15 minutes of testimony from each side during the February 19^th Board meeting , prior to the vote on the new Science Standards.  At this time, no public testimony is being allowed at this scheduled final public meeting where the vote wil take place.