Origin of life bill survives

"It is not a mandate to teach creationism, it is not a mandate to teach intelligent design . . . nor is it a directive to teach religious ideology," Ferrin said. "I want the theory of evolution as currently embraced in science to be taught in our schools. . . . What I am suggesting is, when we . . . speak of origins of life, speak to what is provable or what is proven."

Ferrin said Buttars had not yet seen the substitute bill, which he believes Buttars would like.

Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka said in an interview that the bill "tells the children the truth, lets them know there are other opinions, there are scientists who disagree."

If teachers teach origins of life, they would have a curriculum available from the State Office of Education.

But Education Office attorney Carol Lear fears the bill opens the door to religious discussion in science classes.

"Proponents of the bill want to make sure there's an opportunity for intelligent design or creationism . . . to have some moment in the classroom. I think (this bill) certainly allows for that. One of the questions is, does it require it," said Lear, director of school law and legislation for the State Office of Education.

"This discussion has been so involved with people's religious points of view . . . (that) it becomes a discussion about legislation with a religious viewpoint," she said. "The court in reviewing that gets to look at the whole discussion, even how people perceive the discussion, and you can't just say . . . King's X, this isn't about religion."

Opponents noted the state high school biology core curriculum includes evolution but no mention of life's origin. They also questioned why the Legislature was reaching into the State Board of Education's curriculum-setting duties and how the state would enforce compliance.

"Why are we trying to dictate how teachers teach subjects they've been well-trained in?" said Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay. "We (also) need to give students credit for being intelligent."

"The bill is a very simple one, and one that is very logical to me," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper.

The vote surprised Brett Moulding, state curriculum director, who "thought there were a couple more no's in there."

But not Urquhart, who, during voting, requested "leave of the body to vote 'No' two or three times." When asked, he said he will work to sway colleagues to also vote against the bill. He wasn't sure where other leaders stood.

"My suspicion is, it will pass on the floor."

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