Integrity of Science Education Act
**Rep. Berceau introduced the Integrity of Science Education Act during the
2005-06 legislative session, but it failed to become law.**
This bill would only allow material to be taught as science in public school science courses if it:
- Is testable as a scientific hypothesis
- Describes only natural processes
- Is consistent with any description or definition of science adopted by the National Academy of Sciences
This bill was endorsed by:
The bill would
permit intelligent design and creationism to be taught in non-science
courses, such as comparative religion, social sciences, philosophy, and even
history of science. Intelligent design or creationism may still be taught in science courses, as long as they are not presented as science, but rather as examples of non-science. Creationism and intelligent design would not be permitted to be presented as science in Wisconsin public school science courses.
Credit: The State of Science Standards, Fordham Institute, 2005
The Integrity of Science Education Bill was endorsed by:
- Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison)
- Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison)
- Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Verona)
- Rep. Joe Parisi (D-Madison)
- Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison)
- Rep. Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville)
- Rep. Louis Molepske Jr. (D-Stevens Point)
- Rep. Dave Travis (D-Waunakee)
- Rep. Chuck Benedict (D-Beloit)
- Rep. Donna Seidel (D-Wausau)
- Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee)
- Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee)
- Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison)
- Michael Cox, Professor and Assistant Chair of Biochemistry, UW-Madison
- Rick Amasino, Professor of Biochemistry, UW-Madison
- Alan Attie, Professor and Assistant Chair of Biochemistry, UW-Madison
- Marv Wickens, Professor of Biochemistry, UW-Madison
- Elliott Sober, Professor of Philosophy, UW-Madison
- Ronald Numbers, Professor of History of Science, UW-Madison
- Julie Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Mathematics, UW-Madison
- David Baum, Professor of Botany, UW-Madison
- Sean B. Carroll, R.M. Bock Laboratories, UW-Madison
- Beth Cox, Attorney
Related Information and Links:
What the Blogs Have Been Saying
Articles and Interviews on the Bill
Not in Kansas Anymore - Inside Higher Ed, February 10, 2006
Press Release - on Bill Introduction
Press Conference Remarks of Rep. Berceau - on Bill Introduction
On Wisconsin article: Putting Faith in Science - Summer 2006
Teaching Evolution in the States - Thomas B. Fordham Institute
The State of Science Standards - Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Rep. Berceau and Rep. Black with UW scientists announcing the Integrity of Science Education Act