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.

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Evolution Made Us All from Ben Hillman on Vimeo.

Questioning Origins

source: http://www.thewonderproject.co.uk/index.php

KS3: Examine 4 worldviews

Lead KS3 pupils through Christian, Hindu, Humanist and Islamic explanations of our Origins.

Help pupils form their own opinions Tackle the creation / evolution debate Explore Darwin’s life and changing views Many options for leading 6 RE lessons, as well as supporting lessons in Art, English, Music and Science. Download free sample (PDF).

Helping pupils consider the issues around creation and evolution is a complex task. Different people hold different views – some based on religious teaching, others on scientific discoveries, and still others combine the two.
Made by http://www.trinity-bris.ac.uk/ -

courses in Bible and theology for Christian mission and ministry

BHA request action after latest attempts to inject creationist ideas into school science learning

BHA have news of "Truth in Science" book aimed at schoolchildren via school library.

The BHA has asked Education Secretary Ed Balls to act against a new wave of propagandist material dressed up as science that has been sent to secondary schools by the creationist organisation Truth in Science.

The BHA previously wrote to the DCSF about Truth in Science in 2006 after the organisation attempted to infiltrate teaching of creationism and ‘intelligent design’ in school science lessons by posting costly free teaching resources to all secondary school heads of science and by encouraging parents to challenge teaching on the origins of species.

The Government distanced itself from the resources sent to schools and, after campaigning by the BHA and others, finally published its ‘Guidance on the place of creationism and intelligent design in science lessons’ in September 2007. The guidance makes clear that creationism and intelligent design are not scientific theories, and so cannot be taught in science lessons, as they have "no underlying scientific principles, or explanations".

Truth in Science has now sent copies of the book ‘Explore Evolution: The Arguments for and against Neo-Darwinism’ to school librarians around the country. The book seeks to undermine the theory of evolution and seeks to have creationist-inspired ideas, such as ‘intelligent design’, implanted as credible scientific viewpoints. In the letter that accompanies the book they argue that ‘the textbook is ideally suited for use in the classroom and for teachers who wish to increase their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of modern evolutionary theory’.

James Williams, Lecturer in Science Education at the University of Sussex says:

"The book cleverly omits any mention of creationism and intelligent design, but merely contains updated and rehashed creationist arguments. The book is subtly loaded against evolution, yet purports to be a ‘balanced argument’. It is cleverly constructed and leads the reader down a path where the answer always seems ‘obvious’ – design  – it is if you follow their arguments – but the arguments they have loaded in favour of design cannot be balanced.

"Given the backlash against their last attempt to lever intelligent design into UK they have clearly decided to try a back-door route by pushing these books onto a largely non-scientific audience of school librarians. They could be easily be taken in by the glossy production values and miss the arguments loaded in favour of ‘design’. Many unsuspecting librarians may well have placed this on school shelves.

"If the intelligent design community wishes to be taken seriously it must spend its money on serious scientific research and gain acceptance that way. So far they have produced no credible evidence to date, unlike the mountain of evidence for evolution.”
                                                                                     

Notes

James Williams is available for comment upon request. For information or further comment please contact Paul Pettinger on 020 7462 4993.