Lawmakers consider bill requiring schools explore evidence on evolution
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Lawmakers consider bill requiring schools explore evidence on evolution

Date: February 20, 2013
By: Elizabeth Hagedorn
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB179

Intro: 
A state lawmaker defended his bill Wednesday giving public-school teachers the license to teach evolutionary theories other than those of Charles Darwin.
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Wrap: The bill would prohibit schools from stopping teachers who want to discuss creationism and other theories of evolution in with their students.

The bill's sponsor, St. Louis County Republican representative Andrew Koenig, expressed concern over how evolution is currently taught to students.

Actuality:  KOENIG2.WAV
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Description: “It doesn’t say they have to teach evolution or they don’t have to. It’s basically just saying that if the school district is going to teach evolution that the teacher has the freedom to actually teach on the subject.”

But critics say the measure promotes teaching creationism over a theory widely accepted as scientific fact.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro: 
The classic debate over creationism versus evolution made an appearance before a House committee on Wednesday.
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Wrap: While St. Louis County Republican Representative Andrew Koenig's bill does not mandate schools teach intelligent design, it does prohibit them from barring teachers who to want do so.

Keonig told the committee science textbooks found in most schools are too one-sided.

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Description: "If we want kids to be excited about science and interested, they need to know a lot of the aspects to help develop their critical thinking skills, and I think this will actually help students get more involved in science."

But critics say the bill effectively tells schools what they can and cannot teach. 

Koenig pointed to similiar laws in Tennessee and Louisiana which he says have not faced legal challenges.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Elizabeth Hagedorn, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.