Senate Education Committee hears testimony on SB 2355 to request inclusion of ‘intelligent design’ in next science standards review

Senate Education Committee members heard more than two hours of testimony on Senate Bill 2355, a proposal that would ask the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to include intelligent design among topics considered when the state next rewrites its elementary and secondary science content standards, bill sponsor Senator Dwyer said.

The bill would not force immediate changes to classroom instruction, Dwyer told the committee, because it asks DPI to include intelligent design only “the next time” the state science standards are revised. “This bill has absolutely nothing to do with religion, but everything to do with continuing the search for truth,” Senator Dwyer said during his presentation.

Supporters said presenting intelligent design alongside evolution would develop students’ critical thinking by exposing them to multiple theories. Mara Heidbreder of North Dakota Family Alliance Legislative Action testified the proposal would “teach students how to think rather than what to think.” She said intelligent design is grounded in scientific methods and evidence and urged a “do pass” recommendation.

Opponents —…