Re: In the news: Utah anti-evo bill clears House committee 7-6

Chris Rohrer wrote:

He also said he has concerns that teachers are offering evolution
as a fact when it hasn't been "indisputably proven."
Ferrin would like science teachers to "simply acknowledge what is
proven and what is not proven."
Much of the debate over SB96 in the Senate focused on religion,
atheism and intelligent design, which is the idea that nature is too
complicated to have formed without the help of a supernatural designer.

But Ferrin downplayed religion.
"Religious beliefs are simply not germane to this discussion," he
told the committee.

Right. That their only issue is with evolution and they couldn't care
less if any other science is presented as fact - but this isn't about
religion. And I'm the Second Coming.

In the end, science's credibility will not be harmed by all of this
nearly as much as religion's credibility already has been - by the
hypocrisy and dishonesty being displayed almost uniformly by creationist
zealots. All of religion is being tarred with this brush in the public eye.

CT

Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, didn't buy it.
Bigelow voted against SB96. He said if the intention behind the
bill is religious then it is "inappropriate" and "if it was purely
based upon a desire for scientific principles, then why did they pick
origins of life and origins of species and nothing else in the huge
array of science?"
House Majority Whip Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, also voted
against the bill, along with the four Democrats on the committee.
"Why are we trying to dictate how teachers teach subjects they are
well trained in," said Rep. Carol Spackman-Moss, D-Holladay.
==========

And this...

Origin of life bill survives
By Jennifer Toomer-Cook
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City, UT)
Thursday, February 9, 2006

Read it online at:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635182954,00.html

From the article:
==========
A controversial bill about how the origins of life could be taught
in public schools evolved Wednesday, then squeaked out of committee by
a single vote to face final judgment on the House floor.
The bill, carried in the House by Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem -
sponsoring Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, is hospitalized with an
undisclosed illness - moved to the full House on a 7-6 vote by the
House Education Standing Committee.
Ferrin substituted Buttars' bill to take out references to
scientific theories about the origins of life, as scientists contend
there are none, Ferrin said. It also attempts to prevent teachers from
teaching as fact their ideas about the origins of life. But opponents
fear the changes could open the door for the teaching of "intelligent
design or creationism."
Another big difference came in the committee debate surrounding
SB96. While public comments often focused on the merits of Darwin's
theory of evolution, lawmakers strived to avoid references to religion,
which were common in the Senate floor debate.
The exception came from the Rep. LaVar Christensen R-Draper, who
said, "as a people we're on record, (in) the Declaration of
Independence, we believe . . . in a divine providence," and that
private institutions such as Brigham Young University, home to a
professor speaking against the bill, are in a position to balance
religion and science lessons.
He was interrupted by House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Urquhart,
R-St. George, a bill opponent, who asked Christensen to remain on
topic, saying "The sponsor has said this has nothing to do with
religion or belief in God."
The bill amended by Ferrin states that to encourage students to
critically analyze scientific instruction regarding the origins of life
and species, "the Legislature desires to avoid the perception that any
scientific theory, hypothesis or instruction regarding the origins of
life, or the origins of species has been indisputably proven, or that
the state endorses any one theory or hypothesis."
The state school board must set up curriculum requirements
"relating to scientific instruction of students on the origins of life
and the origins of species." If those matters are taught, lessons must
stress "no scientific theory, hypothesis or instruction regarding the
origins of life or the origins of species has been indisputably
proven."
"It is not a mandate to teach creationism, it is not a mandate to
teach intelligent design . . . nor is it a directive to teach religious
ideology," Ferrin said. "I want the theory of evolution as currently
embraced in science to be taught in our schools. . . . What I am
suggesting is, when we . . . speak of origins of life, speak to what is
provable or what is proven."
Ferrin said Buttars had not yet seen the substitute bill, which
he believes Buttars would like.
Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka said in an interview
that the bill "tells the children the truth, lets them know there are
other opinions, there are scientists who disagree."
If teachers teach origins of life, they would have a curriculum
available from the State Office of Education.
But Education Office attorney Carol Lear fears the bill opens the
door to religious discussion in science classes.
"Proponents of the bill want to make sure there's an opportunity
for intelligent design or creationism . . . to have some moment in the
classroom. I think (this bill) certainly allows for that. One of the
questions is, does it require it," said Lear, director of school law
and legislation for the State Office of Education.
"This discussion has been so involved with people's religious
points of view . . . (that) it becomes a discussion about legislation
with a religious viewpoint," she said. "The court in reviewing that
gets to look at the whole discussion, even how people perceive the
discussion, and you can't just say . . . King's X, this isn't about
religion."
Opponents noted the state high school biology core curriculum
includes evolution but no mention of life's origin. They also
questioned why the Legislature was reaching into the State Board of
Education's curriculum-setting duties and how the state would enforce
compliance.
"Why are we trying to dictate how teachers teach subjects they've
been well-trained in?" said Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay. "We
(also) need to give students credit for being intelligent."
"The bill is a very simple one, and one that is very logical to
me," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper.
The vote surprised Brett Moulding, state curriculum director, who
"thought there were a couple more no's in there."
But not Urquhart, who, during voting, requested "leave of the
body to vote 'No' two or three times." When asked, he said he will work
to sway colleagues to also vote against the bill. He wasn't sure where
other leaders stood.
"My suspicion is, it will pass on the floor."
==========

It looks like someone may have read the Kitzmiller decision. They seem
to be consciously avoiding overt references to religion in the
legislative history.

Chris Rohrer


.

Relevant Pages

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