What Utah schools clearly do not need is a Grand Inquisitor, no matter how badly state Sen. Chris Buttars wishes to secure the position.

Last week Utahns heard Buttars, predictably, and state Superintendent of Instruction Patti Harrington, astoundingly, belittle the teaching of evolution, at least as it relates to humans, and imply that it wasn't going to happen.

Fortunately, the howler attributed to the state's top teacher - that there is "no evidence to connect the family of apes with the family of man" - was being diplomatically withdrawn Monday, as was any implied ban on Darwin.

Officials more knowledgeable about both biology and the state's curriculum suggested that observers forgive Harrington's garbled message, pointing out that she's never taught biology (her doctorate is in educational administration) and that the approved curriculum mandates the teaching of evolution as exactly what it is, "central to modern science's understanding of the living world."

That same curriculum, though, stresses that "Science is a way of knowing," not the way of knowing, and thus the necessary understanding of evolution should not be seen to challenge any religion or other belief system.

That, sadly, may not be enough for Buttars, who a few weeks ago was suggesting a legislative mandate to teach a pseudo-science called "divine design" alongside evolution and, more recently, was heard to say that any Utah teacher who presented human evolution "will be dealt with."

That stands as enough of a threat that teachers flipping back through the state science standards may take solace in the fact that, while high school students are required to grasp the big picture of evolution, there is no requirement that they be told Where We Came From.

Or that they not be told.

Some teachers may find the rapid evolution of bacteria and insects easier for their students to grasp. Others will find that, unless they relate the big idea to the people seated before them, all they will get is glassy-eyed stares.

All schools have plenty of those. We don't need any more. Just as we don't need teachers looking over their shoulders to see if they have offended any self-appointed Torquemadas.