BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Alabama chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday slammed a bill currently making its way through the Alabama Legislature that would allow teachers to help students think critically and come to their own conclusions about disputed scientific theories.

The synopsis of House Bill 592, which is sponsored by a group of ten Republicans, is as follows:

This bill would require the State Board of Education, local boards of education, and staff of K-12 public schools to create an environment that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about scientific subjects.

This bill would also allow public school teachers to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of all existing scientific theories covered in a science course.

Some of the specific areas the bill mentions as possible points of contention include “biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, and human cloning.”

“This is a thinly-veiled attempt to open the door to religious fanatics who don’t believe in evolution, climate change or other scientifically-based teaching in our schools,” Susan Watson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama told al.com. The al.com “reporter” appeared to agree with Ms. Watson, labeling the bill as “anti-evolution” in the title of her article.

State Rep. Mack Butler, the bill’s primary sponsor, dismissed the criticism, saying his bill would simply allow for students to debate the merits of different theories.

“This bill only encourages critical thinking skills through debate,” he told Yellowhammer. “Everything needs to be on the table. After all, many children don’t believe they came from monkeys.”

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— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) December 3, 2014