If Bill Passes, “Creation Science” could be foisted on Indiana Students

The struggle to keep creationism out of American public schools continues. The National Center for Science Education reports that the latest skirmish is taking place in Indiana:

"Indiana's Senate Bill 89, which if enacted would allow local school districts to "require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science," was passed by the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development on January 25, 2012. The vote was 8-2."

The votes for the bill came primarily from Republicans and those against, from Democrats.  "Creation science" could refer to one of several branches of pseudoscience that attempt to dress up religion in scientific terminology. A number of scientists and religious authorities testified against the bill, according to NCSE:

Testimony against the bill stressed the unconstitutionality of teaching creation science, established by the Supreme Court in 1987. Among those testifying against the bill were John Staver, professor of chemistry and science education at Purdue University; Chuck Little, executive director of the Indiana Urban Schools Association; David Sklar, the Director of Government Relations for the Jewish Community Relations Council; the Reverend Charles Allen, a chaplain for Grace Unlimited, a campus ministry in the Indianapolis area; and Reba Boyd Wooden, executive director of the Indiana Center for Inquiry.

Read more here.