Anti-science education legislation in 2022 Oklahoma legislature

ANTI-SCIENCE EDUCATION LEGISLATION IN OKLAHOMA

No bills directly attacking science education were introduced in this year’s Oklahoma legislative session.  We will be closely following SB 1470 by Standridge, the Students’ Religious Belief Protection Act.  The bill bans public schools from employing or contracting with “a person that promotes positions in the classroom or at any function of the public school that is inopposition to closely held religious beliefs of students.”  The bill would allow people to sue teachers if they offer an opposing view from the students’ religious beliefs.  The bill might allow students to object to the teaching of evolution or other science topics.  More info at Mic, the Independent, the Sensuous Curmudgeon, Truthout, Wonkette, PinkNews, Inside Edition, Forbes, Center for Inquiry, and the Friendly Atheist.  Bill text here.