Creationism Advocates Tout
Dead Santorum Amendment

On Januuary 24th Ohio Representative Linda Reidelbach introduced HB 481, which calls for "the presentation of scientific evidence regarding the origins of life and its diversity objectively and without religious, naturalistic, or philosophic bias or assumption."

Kennedy Objects to Santorum Misrepresentation! Evolution is designed for science classes 'The March 14 Commentary piece, "Illiberal education in Ohio schools," written by my colleague Sen. Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania Republican, erroneously suggested that I support the teaching of "intelligent design" as an alternative to biological evolution. That simply is not true. Rather, I believe that public school science classes should focus on teaching students how to understand and critically analyze genuine scientific theories. Unlike biological evolution, "intelligent design" is not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has no place in the curriculum of our nation's public school science classes.' EDWARD M. KENNEDY Senator Letter appearing in The Washington Times

The bill's introduction coincides with the invasion of Ohio by "Intelligent Design" Creationists (ID) from Kansas, as they attempt to convince the state Board of Education that ID should be in the newly proposed state wide science standards. The language of the bill is very similar to the "Santorum Amendment," originally attached to the Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization Act (HB1) that was recently signed into law by President George W. Bush. However, as is explained below, the amendment was not part of the law.

Wording for this amendment, proposed by Senator Rick Santorum, came from well known ID advocate Phillip Johnson.

The original Santorum amendment said: "It is the sense of the Senate that:

(1) good science education should prepare students to distinguish the data or testable theories of science from philosophical or religious claims that are made in the name of science; and

(2) where biological evolution is taught, the curriculum should help students to understand why the subject generates so much continuing controversy, and should prepare the students to be informed participants in public discussions regarding the subject."

In December 2001 the joint committee finished its work, and submitted the compromise bill to Congress, which passed the bill and sent it to President Bush for his signature, but there was one important difference. The Santorum "amendment" no longer existed. It had been stripped out of the bill, watered down, and relegated to the Conference Report, buried deep in the "Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference" in Title I, Part A, as item 78.

Item 78 reads:

The conferees recognize that a quality science education should prepare students to distinguish the data and testable theories of science from religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name of science. Where topics are taught that may generate controversy (such as biological evolution), the curriculum should help students to understand the full range of scientific views that exist, why such topics may generate controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect society.

Creationists around the country cheered and patted each other on the back when President George W. Bush signed in to law the education bill HB1.

But as part of the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of Conference this item has no force of law whatsoever.

Pretending the amendment still exists in the bill signed by the president is nothing more than a sham, an attempt to mislead the public and state legislators into thinking proposed legislation such as Ohio House bill 481 has a precedent of federal law. It does not.

The following links provide documentation of the efforts to clarify the misinformation campaign waged by creationists concerning the non-existent Santorum "Amendment".

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The Conference Report contains the revised language of the original Santorum Amendment. Load the document and search for the word 'evolution'.

The National Center for Science Education was among the first to note the amendment's removal from HB1.