INTELLIGENT DESIGN (ID):
PENDING ID BILLS IN STATE LEGISLATURES AND COURT
CHALLENGES
Sponsored link.
Session 2003-4: ID Bill in the Missouri legislature:
Two Republican representatives to the Missouri House have introduced
HB911, the Missouri Standard Science Act.
It would require "...the equal treatment of science instruction
regarding evolution and intelligent design" in the public school
system of Missouri. 1 It defines a number of novel
terms:
 |
"Biological evolution" corresponds to
what is called naturalistic evolution elsewhere. |
|
"Biological intelligent design" which
apparently refers to what others call Intelligent Design. |
The bill's sponsors assert that: "The lack
of significant present-day observable changes in species due to random
variation, mutation, natural selection, adaptation, segregation, or other
naturalistic mechanisms implies intelligence as the cause for all original
species."
The bill would require that:
|
Only empirical data which has been verified or is currently capable of
being verified by observation or experimentation shall be taught. |
|
If scientific law is taught, statements shall have no known exceptions
of verified empirical data. |
|
Biological evolution and biological intelligent design shall be given
equal treatment. |
|
If an event previous to written history is taught, the event shall be
supported by physical evidence. |
|
New textbooks will have to meet the requirements of the bill. |
|
After 2016-JAN-1, all textbooks in the school system will have to meet
the requirements of this bill. |
|
Willful neglect of any elementary or
secondary school superintendent, principal, or teacher to observe and carry
out the requirements of this section shall be cause for termination of his
or her contract. 2 |
|
Equal numbers of pages in text books would
have to be given to evolution and ID. |
|
Equal number of teacher-directed
activities would have to be given as well. 5 |
On 2004-MAY-14, the bill was referred to the
Special Committee on General Laws. As of 2005-AUG, no hearing has been
scheduled for the bill. The bill is not currently on the calendar.
6,7
This essay continues below.
Sponsored link:
2003-4 Session: Michigan Legislature:
Status: 2003-JUL-2: Referred to Committee on Education
Michigan House Bill #4946 was introduced by Ken Bradstreet, a Republican.
Along with the matching Senate Bill 5005, it would modify
"The revised school code" (1976 PA 451), by adding section 10:
|
a) In the science standards, all references to "evolution" and "how
species change through time" shall be modified to indicate that this is
an unproven theory by adding the phrase "All students will explain the
competing theories of evolution and natural selection based on random
mutation and the theory that life is the result of the purposeful,
intelligent design of a Creator." |
|
(b) In the science standards for middle and high school, all references
to "evolution" and "natural selection" shall be modified to
indicate that these are unproven theories by adding the phrase "Describe
how life may be the result of the purposeful, intelligent design of a
Creator." |
|
(c) In the science standards for middle and high school, all references
to "evolution" and "natural selection" shall be modified to
indicate that these are unproven theories by adding the phrase "Explain
the competing theories of evolution and natural selection based on random
mutation and the theory that life is the result of the purposeful,
intelligent design of a Creator." |
Note that the sponsors of these bills have capitalized the word "Creator" in
the text. This implies that the intelligent design was performed by a deity --
an obvious violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 3 On 2003-JUL-07, the bill was referred to the
Committee on Education. As of 2005-AUG, the bill has not progressed.
2005-SEP: PA: Court challenge of Dover, PA
school district mandate:The public school district in Dover, PA, has
mandated the teaching of Intelligent Design in its schools. The
Pennsylvania ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church
and State have challenged this mandate in court. The case was heard on
for 2005-SEP-26. 4 More details
References used:
-
"HB911," Missouri House, at:
http://www.house.state.mo.us
-
"House Bill # 911, 92nd General Assembly"
Missouri House, at:
http://www.house.state.mo.us/
-
"House Bill No. 4946," Michigan House, at:
http://www.michiganlegislature.org/
-
"Bush endorsement of 'Intelligent Design' in public schools is
irresponsible, says Americans United," press release, Americans United,
2005-AUG-02.
-
"Legislative Alert," Science Teachers of Missouri, undated, at:
http://www.stom.org/docs/board.pdf This is a PDF file. You may require software to read it. Software can be obtained free from:
-
"HB911, Requires the equal treatment of science instruction regarding
evolution and intelligent design," Missouri House of Representatives,
at:
http://www.house.state.mo.us/
-
"House Bill No. 911," Text of the bill, at:
http://www.house.state.mo.us/
-
"House Bill 4946 (2003)," Michigan Legislature, at:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/
Copyright © 2001to 2005 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally written: 2001-JAN-14
Latest update: 2005-AUG-02
Author: B.A. Robinson 
| |
Page Translator:
