Utah House Kills Evolution Teaching Bill

[Judi Lynn]

ABC News
Utah House Kills Evolution Teaching Bill
Utah House Kills Evolution Bill That Would Have Required Schools to Change Science Courses

By JENNIFER DOBNER

SALT LAKE CITY Feb 27, 2006 (AP)— Public schools won't have to change the way they teach evolution, after the House on Monday gutted, and then killed, a bill that would have required science courses to mention alternative theories.

Senate Bill 96 failed in the House on a 28-46 vote, after a lengthy debate that saw the bill changed twice.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, had said it was time to rein in teachers who were teaching that man had descended from apes, and rattling the faith of students. The Senate passed the measure 16-12.

House sponsor Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, started Monday's debate with a substitute bill, which removed the phrase about teaching the "origins of life." Ferrin said the phrase should come out because current state curricula only includes teaching the origins of species, not human evolution.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=1668775

[gordianot]

1. Evolution deniers, first cousin to other deniers of fact.

[Massacure]

2. Alternatives to evolution or evolution as an alternative?

This article is written poorly.

[Bozita]

6. Change '04 to '06 on that bumper sticker -- THAT would sell!

A universal bumper sticker if ever there was one. The Dem party should buy the rights.

[Bozita]

3. So, ... is Utah ahead or behind Kansas in the race toward the 20th cent.?

[mcctatas]

4. "teaching that man had descended from apes, and rattling the faith of

students"...boy these fundies sure aren't very strong in their faith!!! It's almost as if they don't want any POV that doesn't mesh with their own introduced to their little fundie offspring. What are they so afraid of I wonder?! :evilgrin:

[kainah]

5. good for the Utah House n/t

[LiviaOlivia]

7. from the Salt LakeTribune

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3552481

Breaking: House spikes evolution disclaimer bill
By Matt Canham
Salt Lake Tribune

The evolution bill is no more. The Utah House of Representatives voted 46-28 to kill SB96, which cast doubt on the teaching of evolution. "There are a number of influential legislators who believe you evolved from an ape. I didn't," said Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who sponsored the bill. He said it was "doubtful" that he would try a similar bill in the future.

The bill would have required a teacher to say the state does not endorse evolution and that the controversial theory is not a proven fact before teaching Charles Darwin's ideas. SB96's deep religious roots fostered outspoken support among some, such as Rep. LaVar Christensen, and just as fervent opposition from others, like Rep. Stephen Urquhart.

Urquhart, a St. George Republican, first amended the bill, stripping any reference to 'origins of species." The gutted bill simply read: "The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements relating to scientific instruction." Urquhart opposed Buttars' bill because he doesn't feel that science conflicts with religion and said it was misleading to single out one theory as unproven.

The House voted down the gutted SB96 to stop the Senate from having the ability to revive the issue.

[drhilarius]

8. "rattling the faith of students"...

i.e making them think for a change.

[Ecumenist]

10. You know DrHilarius....

It ain't faith if it's rattled by sober intellectual discourse.:eyes:

[Ecumenist]

9. You know, it's kind of hard to believe in evolution...

When your family tree doesn't branch... This is polygamy central for the US and all too often, sisters are married to the same man.:wtf: There's a high percentage inbreeding in the most insular and xenophobic of some of these polygamist communities, with the sadly all too predictable genetic maladies and disease in the innocents born to these "unions".

[genie_weenie]

11. "rattling the faith of students"!

Boy, I'm just glad nobody drew any pictures we may have had rioting...