Thursday, 13 January 2000
http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/LD0568.html
PHOENIX (AP) - A Mesa lawmaker is pushing a bill that would
mandate classroom time be spent on scientific evidence that disputes
evolution.
Republican Rep. Karen Johnson said her proposal is a moderate
attempt to find common ground in the contentious discussion on
the origins of human life.
Critics call it an attempt to sneak creationism into schools.
Johnson's bill does not mention creationism. But it would require
teachers to ``present scientific evidence that supports or is
consistent with the theory of evolution and scientific evidence
that does not support or is not consistent with the theory of
evolution.''
The bill, which has not been filed, already has the support of
several conservative lawmakers, including House Speaker Jeff Groscost.
``If you come from a little bit of slime out of a pool, then what's
so great about life?'' Johnson said. ``I believe we are children
of a heavenly father. I believe in Adam and Eve - all of that.''
Johnson said all she wants is balance in the teaching of evolution.
But critics said Johnson's bill is a veiled promotion of creationism.
``What they're trying to do is veil a creationist assault on evolution
behind the rhetoric of being a `scientific critique,' '' said
Joseph Graves Jr., an associate professor of evolutionary biology
at Arizona State University.
Graves said there is no scientific argument against evolution.
The professional scientific community accepts evolution as ``an
established scientific fact,'' although how it occurred is still
a matter of argument in some circles, he said.
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