House approves broad bill allowing teachers to respond to questions about ‘scientific’ theories

House Speaker Roger Hanashaw (right) speaks with members of the House of Delegates on March 8, 2024, in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)

Public school teachers would be permitted to discuss scientific theories in the classroom under a Senate bill that passed in the House on Saturday evening.

Supporters of the bill, including its lead Senate sponsor, said it would allow teachers to discuss intelligent design — which a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled is not legitimate science — with students who ask questions about it.

Senate Bill 280 as amended in the House says, “No public school board, school superintendent, or school principal may prohibit a public school classroom teacher from responding to student inquiries or answering questions from students about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.”

Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh, quoted from Genesis in the Bible while speaking in support of the bill.

“The more we discover, the closer we get to that these old sources are being confirmed over and over again. That is something we should not be afraid to discuss,” he said. “Our children should be able to go to school and look at a grown up that the state has hired and put in front of them … As they’re learning whatever is being taught in their science class, they should be able to pose questions.”

Some lawmakers raised concerns about the bill’s broad language that could allow anything to be taught to children.

Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, said that it would permit teachers to share atheism, aliens or “randomness” with students who ask about the origins of the universe.

“Anyone’s personal beliefs in an effort to indoctrinate children can be thrown out there,” he said. “What if the teacher said, ‘There is no god?’”

Similar concerns were raised by Del. Diana Winzenreid, R-Ohio, along with a question about who would monitor teachers’ responses.

“For example, what if a child asks a question at school, and a teacher’s personal beliefs are those of an atheist?” she asked.

House Judiciary Chairman Del. Tom Fast, R-Fayette, said that current public school codes that deal with what can be taught in classrooms would apply.

“Parents always have a right to question what’s being taught to their children. If there’s an issue, they can request alternate education,” he said.

There is no state law prohibiting the teaching of intelligent design.

Two high school students from Putnam County — Haden Hodge and Hunter Bernard — brought the legislation to lawmakers, saying that their teachers were fearful of including intelligent design in their lesson plans.

“Our teachers are scared of what would happen to their careers if they inform us about intelligent design,” Bernard told Senators in January.

Several House lawmakers expressed thankfulness to the teens for alerting them to the issue.

The bill passed with a 89-9 vote. Bernard and Hodge were present in the House gallery for the vote. Senators signed off on the legislation in January.

Other education measures that passed the House and Senate this year include legislation meant to bolster elementary teachers’ ability to remove disruptive students, and a bill that would require public schools and universities to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” on a poster.

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