Oklahoma is the latest state to introduce legislation that would limit the teaching of evolution in schools, according to an article published yesterday by the Wall Street Journal. “According to the National Center for Science Education, Oklahoma Senate Bill 1742 is the sixth anti-evolution bill introduced in 2012, following bills in New Hampshire, Missouri and Indiana,” Sam Favate wrote.
“The bill would, if enacted, require the state board of education to assist teachers and administrators in promoting ‘critical thinking, logical analysis, open and objective discussion of scientific theories including, but not limited to, evolution, the origin of life, global warming, and human cloning’ upon request of the local school district,” the NCSE reported. “The bill also provides that teachers ‘may use supplemental textbooks and instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner.’”
The bill, modeled off of a similar law passed in Louisiana in 2008, reads, in part:
Legal challenges to academic freedom bills have historically alleged that such bills are intended to allow the teaching of creationism or intelligent design. This bill does not propose that schools teach creationism or intelligent design, rather, it is the intent to foster an environment of critical thinking in schools including a scientific critique of the theory of evolution.
The bill is sponsored by Josh Brecheen, R-District 6, who wrote in the Durant Daily Democrat in 2010, while announcing his intent to file different but similar legislation, which later died in committee:
It is an attempt to bring parity to subject matter taught in our public schools, paid for by the taxpayers and driven by a religious ideology. I’m talking about the religion of evolution. Yes, it is a religion. The religion of evolution requires as much faith as the belief in a loving God, when all the facts are considered (mainly the statistical impossibility of key factors). Gasp! Someone reading this just fell out of their enlightened seat!!!
About a week later, according to the OSCE, “he indicated that his intention was to have creationism presented as scientifically credible, writing, “I have introduced legislation requiring every publically funded Oklahoma school to teach the debate of creation vs. evolution using the known science, even that which conflicts with Darwin’s religion.”
WSJ reported:
Oklahoma’s bill would cover discussion of evolution, the origin of life, global warming, and human cloning. It states that teachers would use standard scientific text books, and supplement lessons with additional texts and “instructional materials.” Section 5 of the bill declares that an “emergency” exists, and for the “preservation of public peace, health and safety,” the provisions of the bill would go into effect immediately upon passage and approval.
The WSJ article also points to a study, “Defeating Creationism In The Courtroom, But Not In The Classroom,” which found that “only 28% of biology teachers follow the National Research Council’s recommendations to describe evolution in a straightforward manner and explain the ways in which it is a unifying part of all biology.” Thirteen percent advocate creationism, and the rest don’t endorse either evolution or creationism.
Brecheen’s bill can be read in full here.
—Holly Wall, News Editor
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Alohasladie
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Don Rush, Jr.
