(Ed. note: This analysis is reprinted from the Oklahomans For Excellence in Science Education listserve. The OESE website is linked in the menu to the left. On the website you can subscribe to their listserv as well as join this organization of scientists, educators, religious leaders, and laypersons who are working to preserve the integrity of science and promote quality science education in this state.)
Sen. Josh Brecheen claimed in the Durant Daily Democrat that he was going to introduce a bill to place creationism into public schools. His argument was that ‘science is a religion’ and thus should allow other religious views in science courses. His words clearly show his religious intent. “I have introduced legislation requiring every publically funded Oklahoma school to teach the debate of creation vs. evolution using the known science, even that which conflicts with Darwin’s religion.”
- This is a slick bill, in some ways, the first of its type we have seen, and is clearly unconstitutional.
- It actually requires for the teaching of evolution, including a list of topics to be included. This may lure a quick reader to conclude that this is not a bad bill. This is obfuscation. The bill is full of usual creation buzz words that clearly show the intent. Some parts are directly copied from the Discovery Institutes model ‘Academic Freedom Act.”
- Section C.1.: “..Know the definition of science and understand that it has limitations” Intended to disparage science.
- Section C.2.: ‘brings up ‘encourage critical thinking by the student.’ Creationists have used this phrase in other bills and they really mean it in the negative sense – criticism of evolution.
- Section 3.: Calls for students to use “scientific information extracted from current events, science journals, news reports and market materials.”
- Section D.1: “Analyze and evaluate scientific explanations concerning the complexity of the cell.” This is just an opening for Intelligent Design’s arguments about complexity. “A cell is too complex to have arisen by evolution – God did it.
- Section D. 9.: Requires analysis of ‘transitional fossils’ something creationists claim do not exist, despite overwhelming fossil evidence, and often claim that supposed transitional forms are frauds.
- Section B.: The use of requiring the teaching of ‘strengths and weaknesses’ of evolution comes from the DI buzz word that really means to stress unfounded weaknesses of evolutionary facts and creationist teachers will know that.
- Section 10.G: “Students may be held accountable for knowing and understanding material taught in accordance with adopted standards and curricula [FINE], but they shall not be penalized in any way for subscribing a particular position of a scientific debate.” WOULD ALLOW RELIGIOUS ANSWERS TO COUNT ON TESTS AND IN PAPERS.
- Section 10.E. : “No teacher shall be reassigned, terminated, disciplined or otherwise discriminated against for providing scientific information being taught in accordance with adopted standards and curricula.’ This would protect an instructor teaching creationism, since the bill includes controversies in the definition of scientific information. For example, a teacher shows the creationist film ‘Icons of Evolution’ in class and when someone complains, simply claims that she/he is protected by this section.
- The bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt “standards and curricula” that echo the very flawed Texas teaching standards adopted in Texas two years ago by a creationist Board. Sections D1, D2, D9 and D 10 of Brecheen’s bill is directly copied from sections 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B of the Texas standards (TEKS). FIFTY FOUR scientific and educational organizations are opposed these Texas revisions.
This bill will damage science education and harm the attraction of scientists and science based businesses to the State. If the leadership of the Senate is concerned about raising the teaching standards in public schools and improving the state’s economy, they will not allow this bill to get a hearing.
SB 554: By Senator Josh Brecheen, “School curriculum – adopting standards and requiring relevant scientific information taught” has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee. The committee meets on Mondays and may take up the bill next week.
Senate Education Committee:
Chair: District 29 Senator John Ford, (405) 521-5634 fordj@oksenate.gov
Vice Chair: District 35 Senator Gary Stanislawski (405) 521-5624 stanislawski@oksenate.gov
District 21 Senator Jim Halligan, (405) 521-5572 halligan@oksenate.gov
District 42 Senator Cliff Aldridge, (405) 521-5584 aldridge@oksenate.gov
District 6 Senator Josh Brecheen,(405) 521-5586 brecheen@oksenate.gov
District 34 Senator Rick Brinkley, (405) 521-5566 brinkley@oksenate.gov
District 11 Senator Judy Eason McIntrye, (405) 521-5598 easonmcintyre@oksenate.gov
District 9 Senator Earl Garrison, (405) 521-5533 whitep@oksenate.gov
District 25 Senator Mike Mazzei, (405) 521-5675 mazzei@oksenate.gov
District 13 Senator Susan Paddack, (405) 521-5541 paddack@oksenate.gov
District 14 Senator Frank Simpson, (405) 521-5607 simpson@oksenate.gov
District 16 Senator John Sparks, (405) 521-5553 sparks@oksenate.gov
SB 554 BY JOSH BRECHEEN- ANALYSIS OF WHY THIS IS A BAD BILL
(Ed. note: This analysis is reprinted from the Oklahomans For Excellence in Science Education listserve. The OESE website is linked in the menu to the left. On the website you can subscribe to their listserv as well as join this organization of scientists, educators, religious leaders, and laypersons who are working to preserve the integrity of science and promote quality science education in this state.)
Sen. Josh Brecheen claimed in the Durant Daily Democrat that he was going to introduce a bill to place creationism into public schools. His argument was that ‘science is a religion’ and thus should allow other religious views in science courses. His words clearly show his religious intent. “I have introduced legislation requiring every publically funded Oklahoma school to teach the debate of creation vs. evolution using the known science, even that which conflicts with Darwin’s religion.”
This bill will damage science education and harm the attraction of scientists and science based businesses to the State. If the leadership of the Senate is concerned about raising the teaching standards in public schools and improving the state’s economy, they will not allow this bill to get a hearing.
SB 554: By Senator Josh Brecheen, “School curriculum – adopting standards and requiring relevant scientific information taught” has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee. The committee meets on Mondays and may take up the bill next week.
Senate Education Committee:
Chair: District 29 Senator John Ford, (405) 521-5634 fordj@oksenate.gov
Vice Chair: District 35 Senator Gary Stanislawski (405) 521-5624 stanislawski@oksenate.gov
District 21 Senator Jim Halligan, (405) 521-5572 halligan@oksenate.gov
District 42 Senator Cliff Aldridge, (405) 521-5584 aldridge@oksenate.gov
District 6 Senator Josh Brecheen,(405) 521-5586 brecheen@oksenate.gov
District 34 Senator Rick Brinkley, (405) 521-5566 brinkley@oksenate.gov
District 11 Senator Judy Eason McIntrye, (405) 521-5598 easonmcintyre@oksenate.gov
District 9 Senator Earl Garrison, (405) 521-5533 whitep@oksenate.gov
District 25 Senator Mike Mazzei, (405) 521-5675 mazzei@oksenate.gov
District 13 Senator Susan Paddack, (405) 521-5541 paddack@oksenate.gov
District 14 Senator Frank Simpson, (405) 521-5607 simpson@oksenate.gov
District 16 Senator John Sparks, (405) 521-5553 sparks@oksenate.gov