Bill allowing teachers to challenge evolution passes Tennessee House

Science : The Tennessee House of Representatives voted 7028 yesterday to pass a bill that will protect teachers from discipline if they “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, (such as) biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.” While the bill contains verbiage stating that its intent is not to promote any particular religious doctrine, the general consensus among both opponents and supporters of the bill is that it would allow public-school teachers to teach intelligent design as a scientifically valid alternative to evolution. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bill Dunn, a Republican from Knoxville, said it was designed to promote critical thinking. The Tennessee Science Teachers Association, the National Center for Science Education, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science have all expressed opposition to the bill.