Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, has introduced SB 320, the “Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act”. While similar in many respects to HB 1001, the ”Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act” introduced by Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, the bill makes reference to teaching specific science topics. In the words of the bill “The Legislature further finds that the teaching of some scientific subjects, such as biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning, can cause controversy…”. The bill goes on to make a provision that would prohibit school districts or the State Department of Education from stopping a teacher who chooses to present unscientific course content. It further repeats a provision also found in HB 1001, the “Students may be evaluated based upon their understanding of course materials, but no student in any public school or institution shall be penalized in any way because the student may subscribe to a particular position on scientific theories”.
Teachers of science recognize what this statement means when the entire discipline is based on theory.
The text of the bill is found here