Topeka ? Some Kansas House members have jumped into a debate over how evolution is taught in public schools, arguing that science classes should give students “the full range of scientific views” on the topic.

Forty representatives are sponsoring a resolution directed at the State Board of Education, which expects to consider changes in state science standards later this year.

The existing standards describe evolution as a key concept for students to learn before graduating from high school.

Conservative Republicans hold a 6-4 board majority and plan to have public hearings to evaluate scientific evidence favoring and questioning evolution. Some advocates of alternatives such as creationism or intelligent design want students exposed to more criticism of evolution.

The House resolution, introduced Tuesday, tells the board that the state’s science classes should help students understand differing views in controversies, mentioning biological evolution as an example. The resolution declares, “Objectivity is needed in science education.”

“It’s important that the public realize this, that we need objectivity in science classes,” Rep. Mary Pilcher Cook, R-Shawnee, the measure’s lead sponsor, said Wednesday. “We need critical thinking.”

Evolution says that species change in response to environmental and genetic factors over the course of many generations. Intelligent design, a secular form of creationism, argues that there’s evidence of an intelligent design behind the origin of the universe, the formation of the Earth and biological change.

Opponents of injecting more criticism of evolution into science classes contend it’s a step toward teaching creationism or intelligent design. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius opposes such a step.

“My cautionary note is that we not jeopardize the science standards that Kansas students need to learn in order to be competent in the 21st Century,” she told reporters Wednesday.

But Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, said the resolution mirrors language included by Congress in the federal No Child Left Behind education reform law.

“We’re not breaking new ground here,” he said.

Still, other House members questioned whether legislators should enter the debate.

“I think we should let the State Board of Education work on that,” said House Education Committee Chairwoman Kathe Decker, R-Clay Center.