The Indiana House will now consider a bill that would allow creationism to be taught in public school classrooms. The bill—already passed by the state Senate--would allow schools to teach religion-based views on the origin of the universe in science classes, along with teachings on evolution.
However, an Indiana Department of Education spokesman tells the Indianapolis Star that schools would not be forced to teach religious theories, nor would the state develop any curriculum or guidelines for teaching creationism. To become law, the bill would still have to pass the House and be signed by Governor Mitch Daniels.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Dennis Kruse, says he’s aware that the US Supreme Court in 1987 threw out a Louisiana law that required creationism to be taught alongside evolution in public school classrooms. But Kruse says he thinks today’s Supreme Court might rule differently if his bill becomes law and faces legal challenges.
In 2011, six states considered similar legislation, but all of those bills were eventually defeated.