Buttars challenges teaching evolution

A Utah senator has opened a confidential bill file challenging the State Board of Education's position on teaching evolution in public schools.

When asked if it would require intelligent design — an idea that life is so complex it can't be explained by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection alone — to be taught in Utah public schools, sponsor Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, said: "I'm not answering that yet. I certainly think it should. I believe with the president of the United States that intelligent design should have an equal position (in evolution lessons)."

Buttars said the bill will challenge the state school board's statement on teaching evolution. When pressed, he said it could require the state school board to reword its position statement. He also acknowledged it could require teachers to read a statement of sorts before evolution lessons.