Evolution bill close to approval; lawsuits expected
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Ignoring threats of a lawsuit, the Louisiana House voted for legislation Wednesday that could change the way evolution is taught in public schools.
The measure, Senate Bill 733, failed to generate a single question, passed 94-3 and appears poised for final approval.
It now returns to the Senate for consideration of one amendment that was added in a House committee.
The Senate earlier passed a nearly identical version of the bill 35-0.
Backers contend that the proposal would give science teachers more freedom to hold freewheeling classroom discussions, including arguments that challenge Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
But officials of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C., issued a statement Wednesday that said the bill “opens the door to teaching creationism in public schools.”
Christian creationists believe that life began about 6,000 years ago in a process described in the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
“If this new law is used to promote religion in Louisiana public schools, I can guarantee there will be legal action,” said Barry Lynn, executive director of the group.
In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required equal time on creationism when evolution is taught in public schools.
The bill is called the Louisiana Science Education Act.
One of the key points of controversy is what materials teachers could use aside from state-approved science textbooks.
The legislation would allow teachers to use supplemental material “that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis and open and objective discussions of scientific theories being studied but not limited to evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.”
State Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe and House sponsor of the bill, said the amendment added in the House committee would prevent “any kind of crazy materials from being thrown in there” to supplement textbooks.
The amendment would allow the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to nullify science supplements that it considers inappropriate.
The statement by Lynn’s group said those materials “are likely to be anti-evolution books, DVDs and other items produced by fundamentalist Christian ministries.”
Americans United calls itself a national watchdog group to prevent government-backed religious teaching.
SB733 is backed by the Louisiana Family Forum, which calls itself an advocate for traditional family values.
Darwin’s theory of evolution says that life forms have changed over time by mutations, with the pressure of natural selection determining which species survive.
The only “no” votes on the bill were cast by state Reps. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge; Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans; and J. P. Morrell, D-New Orleans.
Seven House members did not vote. They are Reps. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, Gordon Dove, R-Houma, Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe, Fred Mills, D-St. Martinville, James Morris, R-Oil City, Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans and Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse.
The measure, Senate Bill 733, failed to generate a single question, passed 94-3 and appears poised for final approval.
It now returns to the Senate for consideration of one amendment that was added in a House committee.
The Senate earlier passed a nearly identical version of the bill 35-0.
Backers contend that the proposal would give science teachers more freedom to hold freewheeling classroom discussions, including arguments that challenge Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
But officials of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C., issued a statement Wednesday that said the bill “opens the door to teaching creationism in public schools.”
Christian creationists believe that life began about 6,000 years ago in a process described in the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
“If this new law is used to promote religion in Louisiana public schools, I can guarantee there will be legal action,” said Barry Lynn, executive director of the group.
In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required equal time on creationism when evolution is taught in public schools.
The bill is called the Louisiana Science Education Act.
One of the key points of controversy is what materials teachers could use aside from state-approved science textbooks.
The legislation would allow teachers to use supplemental material “that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis and open and objective discussions of scientific theories being studied but not limited to evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.”
State Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe and House sponsor of the bill, said the amendment added in the House committee would prevent “any kind of crazy materials from being thrown in there” to supplement textbooks.
The amendment would allow the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to nullify science supplements that it considers inappropriate.
The statement by Lynn’s group said those materials “are likely to be anti-evolution books, DVDs and other items produced by fundamentalist Christian ministries.”
Americans United calls itself a national watchdog group to prevent government-backed religious teaching.
SB733 is backed by the Louisiana Family Forum, which calls itself an advocate for traditional family values.
Darwin’s theory of evolution says that life forms have changed over time by mutations, with the pressure of natural selection determining which species survive.
The only “no” votes on the bill were cast by state Reps. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge; Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans; and J. P. Morrell, D-New Orleans.
Seven House members did not vote. They are Reps. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, Gordon Dove, R-Houma, Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe, Fred Mills, D-St. Martinville, James Morris, R-Oil City, Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans and Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse.
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