With the Kansas State Board of Education preparing to vote on new science standards this year, the House Education Committee has introduced a bill asking schools to include evidence against climate change in science classes.

House Bill 2306, introduced last week, says science classes must “provide information to students of scientific evidence which both supports and counters a scientific theory or hypothesis.”

The bill says instruction about “scientific controversies” should be objective and include “both the strengths and weaknesses of such scientific theory or hypothesis.” The only controversy identified in the bill is “climate science.”

Asked repeatedly what objective evidence might be used as counter to prevalent theories of global warming, Committe members refused to say and instead looked down at their shoes until one mentioned his cousin Eddy Rigglesford in Maine who said they had a colder than usual winter last year.

At least one other bill currently in the Education Committee would mandate changes in Kansas’ curriculum standards.

That bill would force the State Board of Education to abandon math and English standards that it adopted in 2010. Too many of these standards are thought to obstruct students' Christian religious beliefs and training regimens.

Under Article VI of the Constitution, the State Board of Education has “general supervision of public schools, educational institutions and all the educational interests of the state” except matters covered by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The board sets standards for teaching various subjects, though decisions on specific curriculums are left to local school boards.