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Utah Senate adopts amendment to SB96 requiring schools to note "other ideas" when teaching origins of life
Summary
After debate about classroom mechanics and curriculum authority, the Senate adopted Amendment 2 to SB96 to require that if public education teaches origins of life or origin of man, teachers must note that alternative ideas exist; the bill passed as amended and was referred to the House.
The Utah Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 96 as amended, a measure that addresses instruction concerning the origins of life in public education. Senator Bramble (floor sponsor) offered Amendment 2 clarifying that the bill does not mandate that schools teach alternative theories, but requires that if origins-of-life material is taught, teachers identify that there are other ideas and that not all scientists agree.
Senator McCoy asked how the amendment would play out in a classroom: whether a biology teacher who teaches evolution would be required to enumerate and teach ‘‘other theories’’ and how a teacher would respond to student questions about intelligent design. Bramble pointed to language in the bill that assigns the State Board of Education responsibility to establish curriculum requirements (lines 39–41 of the bill), indicating curricular detail is reserved to the board.
The amendment was adopted on the floor and the Senate passed SB96 as amended by roll call. The floor tally recorded 16 yes votes and 12 nay votes with 1 absent; the bill was referred to the House for further action.
The Senate discussion focused on classroom mechanics, curriculum authority and the bill’s intent to avoid imposing a mandate while ensuring students are told disagreements exist among scholars.
