Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is pushing back against an evolution-only curriculum in Oklahoma schools with newly filed Senate Bill 1868. As reported by the Oklahoma Senate’s official site, the bill aims to introduce a form of academic balance by mandating that public and charter school teachers also educate students on creationism and/or intelligent design alongside the theory of evolution. This move is intended to foster critical-thinking skills and provide a more comprehensive examination of the origins of life.
Under SB 1868, discussions around the scientific strengths and weaknesses of not only biological evolution but also creationism and intelligent design would be protected from censorship by state and local education boards. Bullard, who has a background as a history and government teacher, believes that the current system has led to an indoctrination of students through an uncritical acceptance of evolution. In the statement obtained by Oklahoma Senate, he expressed a desire to put an end to teaching “fiction as fact.”
Highlighting a quote by Charles Darwin, in which Darwin acknowledges the speculative nature of his own theory, Bullard aims to underline the reservations that even the founder of evolutionary studies had about his work. “For far too long, we have clouded the understanding of where we come from and our origins as humans,” Bullard told the Oklahoma Senate. He suggests that by only teaching evolution, schools have neglected a critical aspect of education: discerning the true origins of man.
Related on the SLP
Critics of the bill argue that it brings nonscientific concepts into the scientific arena, potentially blurring the lines between faith-based beliefs and empirical evidence. However, Bullard’s contention is focused on the idea of balance and choice, asserting that, “Either we teach both ideas or we allow parents to teach their kids this important topic,” as stated by the Oklahoma Senate. The bill will be up for consideration in the 2026 legislative session, offering up the possibility of a significant shift in how science and life origins are approached in Oklahoma school systems.
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