New Tennessee law allows criticism of evolution

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he will allow a law that permits questioning of evolution in schools to become effective April 20 without his signature. The law, derided by critics as the “monkey bill” attacking evolution, protects teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories such as global warming, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Haslam, a Republican, said he was allowing the bill passed by the Republican-dominated legislature to become law without his signature because he doesn’t believe it changes scientific standards that are now taught in Tennessee public schools. He noted in a statement that “good legislation should bring clarity and not confusion. My concern is that this bill has not met this objective.”

Supporters say the bill will encourage students to think critically and question scientific weaknesses. Critics say evolution is established science and the new legislation undermines science education by introducing non-scientific ideas such as creationism.

The current controversy harkens back nearly 90 years, when Tennessee was the battleground for the first fight over evolution. In the Scopes “monkey trial” in Dayton, Tenn., in 1925, school teacher John Scopes was convicted of violating a state statute by teaching evolution in biology class. The conviction was overturned a year later by the state Supreme Court, but Tennessee’s anti-evolution law remained on the books until 1967.

“Tennessee has a long history when you talk about the problems of teaching evolution,” Tennessee Education Association lobbyist Jerry Winters told AP. “And with all the emphasis on science, technology and engineering and math, it just seems to be moving totally in the wrong direction.”