Tennessee Legislature Passes Bill On Teaching of Evolution and Similar Topics

The Tennessee legislature this week gave final passage to HB 368, on the teaching of scientific subjects such as biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning that may cause debate and disputation. The bill encourages schools to help students "respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about scientific subjects required to be taught under the curriculum framework developed by the state board of education." It goes on to provide that "teachers shall be permitted to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught within the curriculum framework developed by the state board of education." The bill cautions:

This section only protects the teaching of scientific information, and shall not be construed to promote any religious or non-religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs or non-beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or non-religion.

Passed by a vote of 25-8 in the Senate and 72-23 in the House, the bill goes to Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature.  Yesterday's Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the governor is under pressure from prominent scientists to veto the bill. They claim it will allow the introduction of creationism and intelligent design into science classrooms. The issue is particularly sensitive in Tennessee because it is the site of the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial.