BHA expresses alarm as two state schools challenge teaching of evolution » British Humanist Association

BHA expresses alarm as two state schools challenge teaching of evolution » British Humanist Association

CrISIS - Creationism in Schools isn't science

http://bcseweb.blogspot.co.uk/p/creationism-in-schools-isnt-science.html

BCSE say:-

"Creationism In Schools Isn't Science - CrISIS

BCSE is delighted to announce our support for a new petition.  We introduced the background to the campaign here.

The petition is directed towards Michael Gove and states:

Creationism is known, and officially acknowledged, to be contrary to scientific fact. We therefore demand that creationism should not be presented as a valid scientific position, nor creationist websites and resources be promoted, in publicly funded schools or in any youth activities run on publicly funded school premises.

Please sign the petition and spread the word.

Here are the details:

Despite existing Department for Education guidance on the teaching of Creationism, recent events show additional protection is necessary.

This April (2011), all Year 11 children in a state funded school were brought together and had a visitor introduced to them as a scientist. He then spent the next one and a half hours presenting these sixteen year olds with a series of well polished Young Earth Creationist claims, described as scientific theory.

The visitor was Philip Bell, a full time Evangelical preacher from Creation Ministries International (CMI) who presents creationist views as scientific facts and denies evolution. He states on his website that his preferred method of evangelising is infiltrating at a grassroots level as he feels this has more successful conversions.

 CMI described the school visit on their web site as ‘ministry to school children’.

The parents knew nothing of this until after the event, when one, who happens to be a trained Geologist, and thus qualified to evaluate what had been said, wrote to the school to complain. 



The Chair of Governors replied that this was all part of the Religious Education (RE)curriculum and that she should not worry because they also invited a speaker ‘to present the case for evolutionism’ so that both sides were heard, both ‘scientists’ were given equal time and both talks were presented to the children as ‘a belief’.



These recent events at St Peter's Church of England School, Exeter, show creationists are now openly using RE classes and the school timetable to advance their claim to be offering a valid scientific alternative to established knowledge, even within the State school system.

The school is adamant it has done nothing wrong despite presenting creationism on equal terms with modern science to sixteen year olds. 



In a recent statement, the Department for Education has stated that secretary of state for education, Michael Gove is ‘crystal clear’ that creationism has no scientific validity and should not be taught as science. Yet here we have a school presenting Creationism as a valid scientific position, and justifying this by reference to Religious Education.

Mr Gove might be keen to show that his Free Schools could not possibly succumb to such infiltration, but this incident demonstrates that even state-maintained schools need more clarity and better protection.

This is unacceptable.

There is also a facebook page:

" End of quote.

Government caves to religious groups on evolution in Science » British Humanist Association

Government caves to religious groups on evolution in Science » British Humanist Association

Evolution included in Primary Science Curriculum from September 2014

Evolution was included in the Primary Science Curriculum being announced June 2012. 

The Department for Education (DfE) has published its draft primary National Curriculum for science, which includes the teaching of evolution from year four (age 8-9). 

The British Humanist Association (BHA) spearheaded the 'Teach evolution, not creationism' campaign calling for just this change, and is delighted at the news. More from BHA...

I met with my Desmond Swaine MP on 10th July 2009 to discuss introduction of teaching of Evolution into Primary Schools. Subsequently this was planned for introduction into Primary Schools in September 2011 but with the change of government this has been postponed to September 2014.

Teaching of evolution should be included at both primary and secondary levels in the National Curriculum and in all schools - Update

Creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories, but they are portrayed as scientific theories by some religious fundamentalists who attempt to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools. There should be enforceable statutory guidance that they may not be presented as scientific theories in any publicly-funded school of whatever type.

But this is not enough. An understanding of evolution is central to understanding all aspects of biology. The teaching of evolution should be included at both primary and secondary levels in the National Curriculum and in all schools. source: http://evolutionnotcreationism.org.uk/

Progress | Position Statement | Signatories

Teach evolution, not creationism - Sign Petition

If 100,000 sign by 12th August 2012, Parliament will debate the issue. Sign the Petition

Teach evolution, not creationism

Responsible department: Department for Education

Creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories, but they are portrayed as scientific theories by some religious fundamentalists who attempt to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools. At the same time, an understanding of evolution is central to understanding all aspects of biology. Currently, the study of evolution does not feature explicitly in the National Curriculum until year 10 (ages 14-15). Free Schools and Academies are not obliged to teach the National Curriculum and so are under no obligation to teach about evolution at all. We petition the Government to make clear that creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories and to prevent them from being taught as such in publicly-funded schools, including in ‘faith’ schools, religious Academies and religious Free Schools. At the same time, we want the Government to make the teaching of evolution in mandatory in all publicly-funded schools, at both primary and secondary level.

Number of signatures:

4,272

Created by:

Richy Thompson

Closing:

12/08/2012

View other e-petitions for the Department of Education.

email to Desmond Swayne MP about Evolution and the Scientific Method

email to Desmond Swayne MP 27 March 2011

We met on 10 July 2009 to discuss the introduction of Evolution into the Primary school curriculum. You kindly wrote to Diana Johnson MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for Schools at DCSF) on this subject.

my blog: http://teachevolutionprimaryschool.blogspot.com/2009/12/from-2011-evolution-will-be-compulsory.html

I am writing as your constituent to bring to your attention two Early Day Motions which I am asking you to support.

EDM number 243 reads, “That this House notes the value and importance of science in the schools' curriculum; further notes the importance of the specific inclusion of evolution and natural selection in the schools' curriculum; regrets that evolution has been dropped from reforms to the primary school curriculum, along with other reforms proposed; further regrets the inclusion of creationist and other pseudo-scientific theories in the teaching of science in some schools; and urges the Government to ensure that all schools teach and promote science and the scientific method and to include the theory of evolution in the science curriculum at both primary and secondary levels.”

And EDM 185 reads,

“That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the re-opening of the Ulster Museum; regrets that there is pressure to include creationism in the proposed exhibition of evolution and diversity; and believes that the teaching or promotion of religious beliefs should be separate from the teaching or promotion of science.” I am very concerned that government plans to give schools greater freedom over the curriculum may lead to less evolution being taught in schools and a greater risk that some schools, particularly ‘faith schools’ may try to introduce creationism into the science classroom. As evolution is arguably the most important concept underlying the life sciences, it is of paramount importance that it is included in the education of children of all ages. Providing children with an understanding of it an early age will help lay the foundations for a surer scientific understanding later on.

I urge you to add your support to EDMs 243 and 185.