Mo. measure addresses academic freedom, evolution
Public elementary and secondary school teachers in Missouri would have greater academic freedom to teach about scientific evidence regarding evolution, if a bill recently introduced in the Missouri House becomes law.
Republican state Rep. Andrew Koenig and several other co-sponsors introduced H.B. 195, which would allow educators to teach and guide students in thinking critically about scientific theories and discuss “differences of opinion about controversial issues, including biological and chemical evolution.”
One part of the measure provides that school officials shall not prohibit public school teachers “from helping students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of biological or chemical evolution whatsoever whenever these subjects are taught within the course curriculum schedule.”
Another section states that the bill is not a guise for teaching creationism or religious doctrine. It reads: “This section only protects the teaching of scientific information and this section shall not be construed to promote any religious or nonreligious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs or nonbeliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.”
John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, says he supports the measure.
“Any bill that gives teachers more academic freedom I support,” he said. “The key is the children. If there are any problems or questions with a scientific theory, shouldn’t those issues or flaws be discussed or exposed? As long as the teacher doesn’t use this to teach religion, what are we afraid of?”
Tags: academic freedom, evolution, Missouri
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Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
