Liberty

• [groups|Liberty, St. Charles, Show-Me Science Alliance, Joplin, St. Louis, University of Missouri-Columbia]

"A bill critics say would erode the instruction of evolution in Missouri public schools narrowly cleared a House committee on March 16, signaling a possible shift in how the legislature handles bills on contentious topics.

For the past few years, legislation challenging Darwinism has struggled to get a hearing at all, much less the backing of a committee. Last year, for example, a bill that would have required textbooks to include alternatives to evolution was heard in the final days of the session.

This year's bill, by Rep. Wayne Cooper, R-Camdenton, was fast tracked through the Education Committee, gaining approval in the first half of the session. On it's face, the bill may appear to have nothing to do with evolution - a word not even in the text.

 Dubbed the "Missouri Science Education Act," the bill would require teahcers to distinguish between "verified empirical data" and theories. The bill further calls on teachers to "minimize dogmatism while promoting student inquiry, healthy skepticism and understanding."

Rep. Wayne Cooper, R-Camdenton, "Darwinism in crisis"

The bill makes no mention of intelligent design, a concept that living things are so complex that they would have required an intelligent creator. Cooper said his bill merely seeks to ensure that evolution is taught critically. "It's a bill that wants to bring a fuller picture of evolutionary theory," said Cooper in an interview. Cooper, who is a physician, said he believes "Darwinism is in crisis" with competing information illustrating that the theory of evolution has flaws.

Critics of the bill say it would intimidate teachers, forcing them to demote evolution, inserting scientific doubt that is not shared by the vast majority of the experts. They say evidence supporting evolution is abundant. Otto Fajen, a lobbyist for the Missouri chapter of the National Education Association, said few testified against the bill earlier this week after it was placed on the agenda with little notice. He said officials representing science teachers were not present at the hearing, but would be eager to weigh in.

Cooper said he believes many teachers who have doubts about evolution are afraid to discuss flaws of evolution with students. His bill seeks to protect teachers from being disciplined for teaching scientific theory as theory." - Matt Franck, Post-Dispatch, Jefferon City Bureau (March 16, 2006)

See The Bill: SB 1249

Senator Cooper: Contact Information

Letter to Senators: Microsoft Word Document

Education Committee: Senators To Contact

Weird-Science Article: Bill SB 1249 - A good review

Columbia Missourian: Intelligent Design Bill aims to create momentum for '07

• [groups|Liberty, St. Charles, Show-Me Science Alliance, Joplin, St. Louis, University of Missouri-Columbia]

American Assoociation for the Advancement of Science: 'Deeply Concerned about Legislation and Policies That Would Undermine the Teaching of Evolution'

Here is the key portion of the new statement by the AAAS, issued at its annual meeting in St. Louis Februrary 16, 2006.

"Evolution is one of the most robust and widely accepted principles of modern science.  It is the foundation for research in a wide array of scientific fields and, accordingly, a core element in science education.  The AAAS Board of Directors is deeply concerned, therefore, about legislation and policies recently introduced in a number of states and localities that would undermine the teaching of evolution and deprive students of the education they need to be informed and productive citizens in an increasingly technological, global community.  Although their language and strategy differ, all is these proposals, if passed, would weakend science education.  The AAAS Board of Directors strongly opposes these attacks on the integrity of science and science education.  They threaten not just the teaching of evolution, but students' understanding of the biological, physical, and geological sciences. 

Some bills seek to discredit evolution by emphasizing so-called 'flaws' in the theory of evolution or 'disagreements' within the scientific community.  Others insist that teachers have absolute freedom within their classrooms and cannot be disciplined for teaching non-scientific 'alternatives' to evolution.  A number of bills require students be taught to 'critically analyze' evolution or to understand 'the controversy.'  But there is no signifcant controversy within the scientific community about the validity of the theory of evolution.  The current controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution is not a scientific one. . ."

The full statement is at: www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/pdf/0219boardstatement.pdf

The speaker on the far right, Eugenie Scott, is one of the invitee's to the first Bright's Conference here in Columbia, MO.

BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4731360.stm