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First 2009 Foray At Evolution Teaching Introduced In Oklahoma

By Howard M. Friedman

The National Center for Science Education reports that the first anti-evolution bill to be introduced in a legislature in 2009 is Oklahoma's proposed Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act (SB 320). The NCSE posting also sets out the full text of the bill which provides in part:

educational authorities in this state shall ... endeavor to assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies. Toward this end, teachers shall be permitted to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught....

It also provides that:

Students may be evaluated based upon their understanding of course materials, but no student in any public school or institution shall be penalized in any way because the student may subscribe to a particular position on scientific theories.

This act only protects the teaching of scientific information, and this act shall not be construed to promote any religious or non-religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs or non-beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or non-religion.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 07, 2009 (boomark / email).