The Utah House of Representatives has rejected a watered-down bill that initially had sought to require teachers to explain purported flaws in the theory of evolution and to tell students that the origins of life are not universally agreed upon by scientists.
An amended bill was introduced Feb. 17 that removed references to “origins of life” and simply required that the state board of education establish general curriculum requirements on science.
The stripped-down bill was then voted down by the House, 46-28, on Feb. 27.
“What I have wanted to do all along is stop opinionated teachers from teaching human evolution as fact,” Sen. D. Chris Buttars, a Republican sponsor of the bill, wrote on a state Senate Web log. “Scientists disagree on the origins of humankind. Young students should have a fighting chance to appreciate the difference between theory and law.”
