On March 5 the Ohio House of Representatives began hearings on two bills introduced as the controversy over new state science standards continues. Rep. Linda Reidelbach, a Columbus Republican, is the primary sponsor of both bills.
House Bill 481 would require that "origins science" be "taught objectively and without religious, naturalistic, or philosophic bias or assumption." House Bill 484 would require that new science standards, and only those for science, be approved by both houses of the General Assembly, effectively removing the Board of Education's authority to set science curriculum.
The new standards are scheduled to be adopted by December 31, 2002.
For more details on the hearings, see The Columbus Dispatch. [link has expired]
Follow these links to HB 481 and HB 484.
March 6, 2002