Written by Don Byrd
Legislation introduced in the Indiana Senate and approved by a 8-2 vote in the Senate Education Committee purports to authorize the teaching of creationism in public schools. SB 89 reads:
The governing body of a school corporation may require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science, within the school corporation.
Presumably, Indiana’s legislators are aware that courts are quite decided on this issue. The teaching of creationism in the public school curriculum is unconstitutional, a violation of the separation of church and state. Senator Luke Kinsley voted the bill out of committee even though he recognized it as “a lawyer’s dream.” Is he unconcerned about the taxpayer funds that will have to be used to pay the legal fees associated with the (no doubt losing) lawsuit he envisions?
Even better is the blinders-on answer from committee chairman Dennis Kruse:
Kruse, R-Auburn, said he knew of nothing in state law that prohibits public schools from teaching creationism. He said he sponsored the bill because he believes creationism should be taught among the theories on the development of life and that the proposal wouldn’t force any changes in schools teaching evolution.
Knows of nothing, eh? Does the First Amendment no longer apply in Indiana? That’s a Rick Perry level of constitutional oblivion, isn’t it?
