Senate advances science proposal
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Moving with uncommon speed, the Senate easily approved a bill Monday that backers said would revamp the way evolution and other science topics are taught in public-school classrooms.
The vote was 35-0 and followed about 10 minutes of debate, including restoration of language previously stripped from the bill in a concession to critics.
Senate Bill 733 faces action in the House.
Supporters of the bill contend it is needed because some teachers are afraid to stray from traditional science theories, including evolution.
The legislation was sought by the Louisiana Family Forum, which describes itself as a group that promotes traditional family values.
Opponents have said the bill would inject biblical topics into classroom debates, make Louisiana a national laughingstock and probably trigger a losing court battle.
Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa and sponsor of the bill, disputed that view in his comments to the Senate.
“It only has one purpose: to improve scientific education,” Nevers said of his bill.
Nevers’ proposal would require the state to assist teachers, principals and others in encouraging “open and objective discussion of scientific theories.”
In a key change, the Senate approved an amendment by Nevers that spells out examples of those theories, including evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.
That language was removed from the bill earlier this month at the request of critics before it was approved by the Senate Education Committee, which Nevers chairs.
The executive director of the Louisiana Family Forum, Gene Mills, later criticized that action, which he said took out “explicit expressions” in the bill needed to promote wide-open scientific discussions.
Nevers downplayed the significance of putting the words back in Monday.
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