A bill designed to expand religious expression in schools – from homework to graduation passed the Oklahoma House Education Committee by a 9-7 vote yesterday. HB 1001 lays out a complex set of requirements mandating student-led introductions for official school events like graduation ceremonies and football games, and ensures that the expression of religious viewpoints be allowed during those introductions.
The bill also says: "Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions." Some teachers are understandbly concerned:
Victor Hutchison, president of Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education and professor emeritus of the University of Oklahoma’s zoology department, opposed the measure, saying it could result in religious answers being given in science classes.
“Teachers and even students are going to read that in the bill and they’re going to say, ‘Whoa, this lets me get credit for religious answers,’ ” he said. “Even though it doesn’t say that, it implies that.”
