In an October 10, 2011 interview on “The Marc Bernier Show” on WNDB-AM in Daytona Beach, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott favors spending money on science and math degrees; however, was quoted saying that Florida “doesn’t need a lot more anthropologists in this state.” Read Michael C. Bender’s entire post on The Buzz – a political blog of the St. Petersburg Times
As a political leader with significant national and international influence, we at the American Anthropological Association think it is unfortunate that Governor Scott would characterize anthropology in such a short-sighted way. As a discipline that has a rich and robust history, anthropology has made numerous contributions to the study of cultures both foreign and domestic, and has helped us understand humankind. Anthropologists are leaders in our nation’s top science fields, from groundbreaking discoveries in public health to homeland security, and anthropologists work in various arenas, due to the diversity of the field in science and the humanities.
Download (.pdf) the official response to Governor Scott from the American Anthropological Association: http://www.aaanet.org/issues/policy-advocacy/upload/Letter-to-Gov-Scott.PDF
View the comments made to the October 11 blog post.
Read member commentary:
- One recent grad speaks out on their blog – benthropology
- A perspective from a biological anthropologist – Powered by Osteons
- Neuroanthropology nicely rounds-up the coverage
- Written Dispatch – Anthropologists Shouldn’t Hate Governor Scott…
- Anthropology 4F03: Archaeological Theory Hub – We don’t need no stinkin’ anthropologists
- Savage Minds – Ryan asks readers “Should anthropologists be completely focused on producing jobs, or are there other elements that matter in a valuable and worthwhile education?”
- Living Anthropologically – Anthropologist Unite – Florida Edition
- John Hawk Weblog - Florida: Anthropologists not wanted
- Response to Governor Scott by the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (via Neuroanthropology)
- Students of USF respond with a presentation called This Is Anthropology
- Neuroanthropology – Oh Wait, Rick Scott Loves Anthropolgy
- Savage Minds – Anthropology, Dialog and “Intellectual Reconstuction”
- Neuroanthropology – Why We Protest
The press picked up the conversation with gusto and even revealed that Scott’s daughter earned her degree in Anthropology at the College of William and Mary. Daniel Lende has done an excellent summary of the press coverage on his blog Neuroanthropology.
- Article in The Economist
- Why Invest In Jobs That Don’t Exist? Ocala.com
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