A bill that could allow teachers to discuss theories such as smart design with students and answer questions from students will be presented to the House of Representatives for a vote on Tuesday morning after minor revisions.
Senators already approved The Senate passed the bill (Senate Bill 280) at the beginning of the legislative session on the grounds that it would protect teachers who could face legal problems when discussing theories that have nothing to do with the theory of evolution.
A Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee argued that the bill does not explicitly allow smart design in education – despite the was discussed as a possible intention of the legislation in the Senate.
During the debate, Republicans emphasized that the bill does not prescribe what should be taught, but rather ensures that students can have comprehensive discussions about theories.
“This bill does not require a teacher to teach creationism,” said Republican Rep. Andy Shamblin of Kanawha, who teaches in public school. “This bill simply says that the teacher can discuss the subject if it comes up.”
While expressing his support for the legislation, Del. Scot Heckert, R-Wood, said the bill could lead to more students becoming interested in science or “just [keep] “Stop them from taking drugs, playing computer games, or eating Tide Pods.”
“It is a good bill,” he added.
Members of the Judiciary Committee amended the law to read: “No school board, superintendent, or principal shall prohibit a classroom teacher of a public school from responding to student inquiries or answering student questions about scientific theories concerning the origin of the universe and/or life.”
Her amendment returned the bill to the Senate version after changes in the House Education Committee.
Democrats on the committee expressed concerns that the bill seeks to introduce religious education into schools. Rep. Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia) said Republicans are misinterpreting the bill’s impact.
“It doesn’t protect creationism or intelligent design,” Hansen said. “I have a lot of respect for people’s religious beliefs and how those beliefs can affect their ideas about how life began on Earth, but the question is whether or not that’s a scientific belief and whether those should be taught in the classroom along with scientific theories. I don’t think so.”
Although there is no law prohibiting discussion of smart design in West Virginia public schools, two students at Hurricane High School told lawmakers in January that their science teachers were afraid to teach about smart design in their classes. The bill was introduced by Senator Amy Grady (R-Mason), who is a public school teacher.
In 2005, a federal judge in Pennsylvania governed that it is unconstitutional to present smart design as an alternative to evolution because it represents a Christian viewpoint and is not legitimate science.
Del. Todd Kirby (R-Raleigh) said he could not see how the legislation would teach students about religion in science classes.
“Just because you believe we came into being from something greater than mere chance or a moment when everything in our universe and solar system came together … doesn’t mean you’re promoting religion. It just means you have a different theory than what’s taught in school,” he said.
Democratic Rep. Joey Garcia of Marion expressed concern that the bill contains “no guardrails” for how a teacher can respond to students, potentially introducing religious theories.
“I think some people think this opens the door to creationism, but it’s just as likely that the teacher is promoting a theory that has no basis in fact. That could have unintended consequences,” he said.
Garcia and Hansen voted against the measure, which passed and now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
