State and local-level school officials would be required to develop guidelines for teaching evolution under legislation making its way through the .
If passed, school districts would have to, 鈥渆ncourage students to explore scientific questions鈥� regarding the 鈥渟trengths and weaknesses鈥� of both biological and chemical evolution. The sponsor, (R, Winchester), says stresses academic freedom.
鈥淚t does not mandate curriculum to the teacher," Koenig said. "It鈥檚 really up to the school district, and if evolution is gonna be taught, it just allows them to teach the scientific strengths and weaknesses.鈥�
(D, Barnhart) sits on the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education. He says he鈥檚 concerned the bill could open the door to religion being taught in K-12 schools.
鈥淥nce we start legislating how teachers teach in the classroom and what theories they can prescribe and which they can鈥檛, it really does open up a Pandora鈥檚 Box that I don鈥檛 think we want to open," Roorda said.
No one testified against the measure at a hearing conducted Wednesday by the committee, which is expected to vote on the bill at a later date.
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