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------- Forwarded message ------- From: Nick Matzke <matzke@ncseweb.org> To: NCSE members <matzke@ncseweb.org> Subject: "Alternative Theories on Origins" Legislation in Alabama Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 15:35:06 -0800 > Hello Alabama NCSE members, > > Two antievolution bills, each designated the "Academic Freedom Act," > have > recently been introduced in the Alabama legislature (as House Bill 391 on > February 12 and Senate Bill 336 on February 17). The House bill has 31 > co-sponsors (out of 105 House members) and the Senate bill has 10 co- > sponsors (out of 35 senators), so they already have substantial support. > The two bills have very similar, but not identical, wording. > > The last statewide antievolution issue in Alabama was the textbook > disclaimers. NCSE will be working with our members and others in Alabama > who are opposed to this new threat to science education. Please let me > know if you have any questions or comments, or would like to be involved > in this issue. > > Each bill gives teachers and instructors at public educational > institutions from kindergarten to university the "affirmative right and > freedom to present scientific, historical, theoretical, or evidentiary > information pertaining to alternative theories or points of view on the > subject of biological or phhsical origins." The bills are framed as an > academic freedom issue, although it is clear that current protections on > speech and academic freedom cover origins along with all other topics. > The actual purpose of the bills seems to be allowing and encouraging the > teaching of creationism in public schools. The lead sponsor of SB336, > Sen. Wendell Mitchell, is quoted in the February 18 Montgomery Advertiser > as saying "This bill will level the playing field because it allows a > teacher to bring forward the biblical creation story of humankind." > > NCSE's summary of the bill, and the full text of the Senate version, > are > available from our front page: > http://www.ncseweb.org > http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2004/AL/392_alternative_theories_legis la_2_19_2004.asp > > The Montgomery Advertiser article ("Proposal protects teaching > creation") > is available online at > http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryAlabamaevolution18w.htm > > ALISON, the Alabama Legislative Information System ONline, allows > readers > to download pdfs of the bills and track their progress: > http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp > > Sincerely, > Nick Matzke > NCSE Public Information Project Specialist > (matzke@ncseweb.org) > > > Attached: Text of NCSE summary of the bill > ================== > "Alternative Theories" Legislation in Alabama > > On February 17, Senate Bill 336 -- entitled the "Academic Freedom Act" > -- > was introduced in the Alabama state Senate and referred to the Senate > Education Committee. (A similar bill, HB391, was introduced in the > Alabama House of Representatives on February 12, and referred to the > House's Education Committee.) If enacted, SB 336 would provide teachers > and instructors at public institutions "the affirmative right and freedom > to present scientific, historical, theoretical, or evidentiary > information pertaining to alternative theories or points of view on the > subject of biological or physical origins," and protection from penalties > for teaching alternatives. The bill would also provide a student the > right "to a particular position on biological or physical origins, so > long as he or she demonstrates acceptable understanding of course > material." Section 5 of the bill stipulates that the "rights and > privileges contained in this act do not apply unless the subject of > biological or physical origins is raised in the context of approved > curricula material." > > The text of SB 336 follows: > >> SB336 >> >> By Senators Mitchell, Waggoner, French, Lee, Erwin, Byrne, Dial, >> Figures, Escott, and Ross >> RFD: Education >> First Read: 17-FEB-04 >> >> SYNOPSIS: Existing law does not expressly provide a right nor does it >> expressly protect tenure and employment for a public school teacher or >> teacher at an institution of higher education for presenting scientific, >> historical, theoretical, or evidentiary information pertaining to >> alternative positions in curricula being taught or in a course of >> learning on the subject of biological or physical origins. In addition, >> students are not expressly provided a right to a position on biological >> or physical origins. This bill would expressly provide rights and >> protection for teachers and students concerning their position on >> biological or physical origins. >> >> A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT >> >> Providing teacher rights and protection for a public school teacher >> or >> teacher at an institution of higher education to present scientific, >> historical, theoretical, or evidentiary information pertaining to >> alternative positions on the subject of biological or physical origins >> in applicable curricula or in a course of learning; providing employment >> and tenure protection and protection against discrimination for any >> public school teacher or teacher at a public institution of higher >> education related to the presentation of scientific,historical, >> theoretical, or evidentiary information pertaining to alternative >> positions on the subject of biological or physical origins in applicable >> curricula or in a course of learning; and providing student protection >> for subscribing to a particular position on biological or physical >> origins. >> >> BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: >> >> Section 1. This law shall be known as the "Academic Freedom Act." >> Section 2. Every K-12 public school teacher or teacher or instructor >> in any two-year or four-year public institution of higher education, >> or in any graduate or adult program thereof, in the State of Alabama, >> shall have the affirmative right and freedom to present scientific, >> historical, theoretical, or evidentiary information pertaining to >> alternative theories or points of view on the subject of biological >> or physical origins in any curricula or course of learning. Section >> 3. No K-12 public school teacher or teacher or instructor in any >> two-year or four-year public institution of higher education, or in >> any graduate or adult program thereof, in the State of Alabama, shall >> be terminated, disciplined, denied tenure, or otherwise discriminated >> against for presenting scientific, historical, theoretical, or >> evidentiary information pertaining to alternative theories or points >> of view on the subject of biological or physical origins in any >> curricula or course of learning. Section 4. No student in any public >> school or institution shall be penalized in any way because he or she >> may subscribe to a particular position on biological or physical >> origins, so long as he or she demonstrates acceptable understanding >> of course materials. Section 5. The rights and privileges contained >> in this act do not apply unless the subject of biological or physical >> origins is raised in the context of approved curricula material. >> Section 6. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third >> month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its >> otherwise becoming law. > > [SB336, pdf downloaded on 02/19/04 from ALISON, text copied with page > numbers and line numbers removed] > ==================
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