David Attenborough joins the campaign against creationism in schools.

[Peanutbuttertuesday]

I've posted before about the issue of religion being taught as fact in schools before. I'd be interested to hear what everyone has to say about this.
Discuss!
www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8769353/David-Attenborough-joins-campaign-against-creationism-in-schools.html

[MiseryBusiness]

I agree Creationism isn't fact

Discuss!

[TheVermiciousKnid]

Excellent. :)

[sue52]

Good for him. Keep this madness out of our schools.

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

I agree! :)

[Peanutbuttertuesday]

I agree :) i love the fact that DS has the opportunity to explore different faiths, but it seems totally inexplicable to me that religion is taught as fact... in a state school!

[bumbleymummy]

How exactly is creation taught as fact? Do they teach it in a science lesson? Ours was confined to RE and we studied evolution in Science class and I went to a Catholic school.

[Peanutbuttertuesday]

Well my DS is 5, so he doesn't exactly get formal science lessons, but he seems to be bombarded with the message that there is no doubt God exists every day. They offer it to him without any explanation that it is a belief and it's ok to not think that.
They also give really pithy answers to his questions, for example, he asked why people speak different languages and was told that God gave people different languages to make them more interesting. I was gobsmacked!

[scaevola]

The link says they are campaigning against the "threat" - is this a bogeyman? Are there any schools which do teach this in the UK? How many?

[AliGrylls]

Why shouldn't it be discussed? I don't think it should be banned - I don't really know what the problem is with teaching it as a small part of a much bigger picture, which would include teaching evolution.

I understand that creationism has been scientifically proven to not be the case but if scientists are so convinced they are right what is the problem with talking about it in the context of its' religious roots.

[ThePosieParker]

It's going to be discussed in science, not RE...that's the problem.

[MillyR]

I suppose it depends what people mean by teaching evolution in primary schools. What exactly do they want to teach about it? Many aspects of it are already taught; the aspects that aren't taught are perhaps not covered because they are a bit too complicated for the age group?

[ThePosieParker]

The Big Bang? maybe

[MillyR]

The big bang has nothing to do with evolution.

[maypole1]

if my son was taught that lesson he would be removed from the school .


any school that teaches god as fact are loopy and not to be trusted with anyone let alone children

as always parents will vote with their feet

[TheVermiciousKnid]

I think the concern is particularly about new faith-based 'free schools'. Fair enough if creationism is talked about in RE, but it should not be presented as an alternative to evolution in a science lesson.

[Goodynuff]

What if they were teaching kids that ghosts were real in science class? Or telekineses? Some people believe it.
Creationism, if mentioned at all, should be in a religon class, not science (or geography, etc)
At times like these I am glad we have seperation of church and state where I live.

[MillyR]

I think the issue was that there was one particular science curriculum (might have been a particular GCSE that was more based on teaching Science in society rather than Science. This looked at the debate over evolution and creationism within science lessons.

Obviously what should be studied in Science lessons is science and debates within science.

[NorfolkNChance]

I completely agree.

I am also an RE teacher. I teach creationism alongside evolution, Richard Dawkins etc. as one of many viewpoints.

[MillyR]

Sorry, that was a bit unclear. I mean that was an issue in mainstream state schools. I'm not saying there aren't other additional issues in free schools.

[aliceliddell]

If a Creationist like Varney (?) owner of Stagecoach takes over your local comp and turns it into an Academy then he can (and has) teach creationism as fact and there is very little you can do about it. Tough if there's no other school. Not sure if the Varney school situation is still the case.
Maybe Brian Cox could be persuaded to go round talking about why the earth is probably not flat. (On second thoughts, does he need to talk?)

[Peanutbuttertuesday]

Aliceliddell, i agree about Brian Cox, i think i'd have to drop in to assembly if he did that at DS's school!
Thats another thing, is it really fair that children are being placed into a religious state school, regardless of faith, just because it's the nearest? Not everyone has a choice about where their kids go.

[Peanutbuttertuesday]

Thanks Joyful. Wow, that is astounding.
'They are independent from local authorities and do not have to follow the national curriculum. However, lessons must be 'broad and balanced.''

Surely any evangelical organisation can teach anything in a 'broad and balanced' way?
I'd love to hear from people that agree with creationism being taught as fact in state schools. Or just don't really mind.