GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 511

Short Title:  Evolution Not Taught as Fact.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Capps; Aldridge, Barbee, Brown, Cansler, Davis, Decker, Eddins, Ellis, Hill, Howard, Kiser, McMahan, Nichols, Nye, Reynolds, Shubert, Starnes, Warner, Weatherly, C. Wilson, and G. Wilson.

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Referred to:  Education.

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March 13, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAWS TO ENSURE THAT EVOLUTION IS NOT TAUGHT AS FACT IN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Whereas, the students in North Carolina public schools should be taught the truth; and
Whereas, understanding science is essential for the survival of a free, democratic society; and
Whereas, the Mission Statement of the North Carolina Teacher Handbook Science K-12 declares that all students become scientifically literate; and
Whereas, modern scientific methods have shown that life is exceedingly complex and there is no present satisfactory scientific explanation for the origin of life from nonlife; and
Whereas, scientific literacy implies that students receive substantial knowledge of concepts and process skills which enable the individual to continue to learn and think logically; and
Whereas, science depends upon the use of proven facts and testable hypotheses; and
Whereas, the theory of evolution is a belief and not true science and should not be taught as fact, nor should student attitudes "be a part of an achievement score"; and
Whereas, there are ample opportunities to teach biological facts that are true, useful, and relevant to the student and useful throughout life; and
Whereas, the teaching of evolution as fact, when it cannot be scientifically proven, requires students to accept the teaching by faith; and
Whereas, the technology used to define evolutionary theory is vague and misleading, and some public school teachers and all presently approved biology textbooks present evolution as fact with many unproven misconceptions and untruths; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C-81.3.  Students shall be taught true science and not belief.
The State Board of Education and local boards of education shall ensure that students in North Carolina public schools are not taught evolution as proven fact."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.