Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum Intelligent Design topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee votes "do not pass" on bill proposing intelligent-design instruction
Summary
The Senate Education Committee voted to recommend "do not pass" on a bill that would have authorized intelligent-design content; members cited litigation risks and concerns about appropriateness in public school science instruction.
The Senate Education Committee voted to recommend a do-not-pass on Senate Bill 2355, a bill that would have addressed "intelligent design" in schools.
Senator Axman and other committee members raised concerns that requiring or elevating intelligent-design instruction in public-school science courses could invite litigation and place classroom teachers in the position of mediating contested viewpoints with young students. Senator Boushey said that while the sponsor intended the measure as an option, placing the topic in science instruction would put teachers "in a position...based on different folks' interests in that conversation." Senator Gearhart said he struggled with the bill's workability and moved a do-not-pass recommendation.
The committee recorded a vote in favor of do-not-pass: 4 yeas, 1 nay, 1 not voting. Senator Gearhart agreed to carry the bill.
