The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV) has introduced a digital platform for students and parents to report instances where educators might be promoting religious beliefs as science. This move comes in response to recent changes in legislation. Earlier this year, West Virginia's Senate Bill 280 (SB280) initially allowed the teaching of intelligent design creationism in public schools. However, after significant backlash, the bill was modified to permit educators to address questions about "scientific theories" related to the origins of life.
Despite the amendments, ACLU-WV has raised concerns that the revised bill could still allow teachers to present intelligent design and biblical creation narratives as scientific theories. A 2005 court decision had previously ruled that intelligent design does not qualify as science. “The revised bill's intentions are ambiguous since teachers already had the freedom to discuss scientific theories. What remains clear is the constitutional mandate that the state must not impose religious viewpoints on students. The ACLU-WV plans to vigilantly oversee the situation, with legal team members personally reviewing each reported complaint.
Report Instances to the ACLU: HERE