Intelligent design in Free Schools

[cynicalsceptic]

Despite my long held atheist beliefs my child has ended up going to a Christian Free School. The Head assured me that Creationism would not be taught. Unfortunately Intelligent Design seems to be taught in Science (to the exclusion of anything else so far). I am livid and unsure of how to proceed. Should this be allowed?

You are allowed to refute what they are taught in school!
As far as I'm aware though, free schools can cover different things to national curriculum.

I think restrictions relating to Creationism and Intelligent Design teaching have recently been introduced for Free Schools and Academies- funding can be withdrawn. I think I am on a hiding to nothing- railroaded into this due to school transport. After 2 weeks I have the sinking feeling that this is a battle I cannot win. Religion creeping in everywhere- even music.

Sounds shit and really really shouldn't happen. I can't say that I am surprised though it was inevitable that some families would end up having to attend free schools with non compatible ethos. You shouldn't need to refute what is being taught in Science!

I don't think this is legal any more- are OFSTED aware?

My husband is going to request a meeting with the teacher and Head to complain. (I cannot do it as I would get too annoyed). If no joy then we will take things further. My child has been at 3 different schools in the last year- I do not want to add another to the mix.

You need to check out the school's funding agreement. If you PM me the school I will find it for you. This will say if there is any restriction on teaching creationism. The current model funding agreements have a clause about teaching evidence-based theories.

If the school is doing wrong, you can complain first to the school and then to the DfE.

You must pursue your rights and make sure the school is doing as it should, but more important is what you teach your kids.

As a "long held atheist", I'm probably telling you what you already know and do .....

1. Instill the scientific method and skepticism at home (e.g. lots of David Attenborough - he did a great show on Evolution, BBC I think)
2. Have open conversation about atheism
3. Arm them with 5 killer questions from atheist thinkers, e.g. there are thousands of gods around the world that lots of teachers and parents believe in - why should I believe in yours?
4. Take them to science/skeptic/atheist events
5. Get them reading stuff that will ensure evidence based cognitive development. For example these publishers have good stuff for all ages. I like "Maybe Right, maybe wrong", "Maybe yes, maybe no" and "Humanism, what's that?" www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=96

PS - I try to avoid Dawkins current works and evangelism. The Blind Watchmaker and the Selfish Gene are the ones to read.

Have a look at this from the British Humanist Association: humanism.org.uk/2012/01/10/news-961/. As I understand it, free schools should not be teaching intelligent design while continuing to be funded by the state. Could be some useful info here to arm yourselves with when approaching the school about this.

Thanks everyone. You are reinforcing my resolve.
I am feeling a bit conflicted at the moment as my mum gave me a good talking to the other day-saying that I should not rock the boat and keep quiet about things. Apparently my kids will not be liked if I carry on. They take too many of their views from me- I should let them make up their own minds. I did point out that if a Christian took their kids to Sunday School etc noone would say the above. Oh and it is my fault my son is not interested in football (??!!) Sorry just need to vent.

If you read the judgement in Tammy Kitzmiller, et al. v. Dover Area School District, et al, which was where Intelligent Design got killed in the US (although not without effectively bankrupting a school board in the process) you get to see just how threadbare and, dare one say it, stupid the arguments for ID are. And also, of course, that ID is just a camouflage for creationism.

But the real entertainment comes from reading the transcript of the hearings, from which you learn that ID proponents are not just ill-educated (none of the school board in Kitzmiller had an education post 16), but also liars and charlatans as well.

As others have said, teaching of ID is grounds for cessation of funding. As has been shown in Derby and Crawley, the DfE are not afraid to use those powers. Morgan is, unfortunately, less likely to see the intellectual vacuity of ID, but no minister wants to look like a rube, and being seen to be defending Creationists will make you look like a rube. So if you have some evidence (a worksheet, perhaps) then a complaint to Ofsted and the DfE would be fairly effective.

Conspiracy theorists are currently claiming that the downgrading of the Jewish Free School in north London is "political", and that Ofsted have to be seen to be hassling a Jewish school in the aftermath of Trojan Horse, in order to show they are being even-handed. It pains me to say it, but it wouldn't amaze me to learn there was a glimmer of truth in that. If so, they'd be very happy to deliver a kicking to some creationists.

They are potentially in breach of their funding agreement. That says they may not allow any theory to be taught as evidence-based if it is contrary to established scientific evidence and explanations. It also says they must teach evolution as a comprehensive, coherent and extensively evidenced theory.

Assuming you want to take this further you should complain to the head. If that doesn't produce any change follow the school's complaints procedure. If that also fails you can complain to the EFA.

Appalling. It's bad enough that 'faith schools' exist, and that people are effectively forced to send their children to them against their own beliefs and principles but teaching anti-scientific nonsense in science classes is not supposed to be allowed.

You're right about the double standards - no-one blinks an eye when religious people take their kid to Sunday school/koran classes or whatever. IME atheists are the group most scrupulous about actively encouraging their kids to make up their own mind - teaching their kids how to think not what to think.

How old is your child, what sort of ID nonsense are they teaching?

agree with what others have said. and do keep evidence - worksheets, homeworks etc to clearly show ID teaching so they can't deny it. there are lots of skeptic / humanist people on twitter who would help too.

I should not rock the boat and keep quiet about things. Apparently my kids will not be liked if I carry on.

I'll eat my hat if you're the only one to object. I'd be surprised if there was enough ID believers in the UK to fill an entire school.

I am genuinely gobsmacked at this and very upset. Not that I disbelieve you OP, of course not, but that this is even an issue. That's just... Bonkers. (No free schools where I am). I knew they had a certain amount of flexibility in terms of the curriculum but this is mind-boggling.

You have to challenge this.

I wonder which school. A free school has opened near us, run by a Christian group. There is a shortage of school places locally and parents are very worried that they will be forced, effectively, to accept an education for their children based on other peoples values.

Obviously during the consultation the people behind the school denied this would be the case, but parents remained worried.

What you describe sounds plausible....and completely unacceptable. I would remain polite and moderate but keep it in writing. If you have a meeting follow up with a note confirming what you were told. The take it higher if you need to.

I would also not tell your children. If the Head or Governors make life more difficult for your children because you are objecting to an imposed ethos/belief system this is even more unacceptable.

I sent the worksheet back as it was homework (did not want child to be singled out). I took photographs though.
My child is 11. My kids went to an International School abroad until December where religion just did not get a look in (so many kids from different backgrounds) so this is a massive struggle for us all. The "science" teacher is also my child's form tutor so there is no avoiding him.

Has your DC expressed an opinion on this? I think mine might well have challenged an obviously ID stance at that age.

I believe in god but think intelligent design is completely inappropriate in science lessons as it is not a scientific theory or hypothesis or anything. Having said that if your child is in a school specifically established to be Christian you should expect Christianity to be in a lot of school life. You didn't choose to send your child to a secular school so it will not be a secular experience.

you should expect Christianity to be in a lot of school life

Since when was creationism part of mainstream Christianity? It's explicitly rejected by the Catholic Church and by most recognised Protestant denominations in Europe, and is mostly the preserve of the outer limits of evangelical churches. My children attended a CofE primary, and I would have been both shocked and surprised had the slightest whiff of creationism been present, as would most members of the CofE.

The choice of a secular school (or as near as you can get to one in this country) wasn't available.

Duhgldiuhfdsli, you appear to be attacking something I never said. I never said creationism was part of mainstream Christianity. I said one should expect Christianity to be present in a mainstream school. It is you who appears to have read Christianity as creationism, not me.
Errol regardless of whether a secular school was available or not your child is in a school established to be Christian, so Christianity is going to feature in school life. ID should not be in science though at all.

Okay my fault then. The only transport provided was to the Free School (deemed to be nearest one as crow flies) and no guaranteed place on buses to other schools. I did not choose to put my child there- did not get in to the other school applied for. I am aware that there will be "God stuff" to quote my child but ID in Science! It is also our legal right to opt out of collective worship etc. We wanted our child to give it all a try but she is objecting to hymn singing and prayer saying. She has been told to mouth the words by the teacher dealing with it but she is not happy about that either.
Worried that child is going to say it is all bunk at some point- no discussion of ID in science-just stated as fact.

Laphem - I don't think the OP has complained about Christianity featuring in school life in general - but on this specific which we're all agreed shouldn't be happening. (Though IMO she would have every right to be unhappy that a religious school and one which doesn't even follow the national curriculum is the only state school available - that is a problem with the whole system rather than the particular school)

Errol she did, she complained about religion creeping in everywhere, even to music, that was in her second post, the third post in the thread. Hence my comment.