Creationism in schools

The Royal Society has issued a strongly worded attack on the teaching of creationism as a leading scientist, comparing it to the theory that babies are brought by storks.

 

The warning from Britain's leading scientific academy comes amid concern over the attempts to challenge the theory of evolution in schools and colleges by teaching as if it were a scientific theory the idea that God created the world.

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Directors

 

 

Richard Wilson, head of business policy at the Institute of Directors, said: "Religious schools have played a crucial and valuable role in the education of successive generations of children in our country.

 

"Religious schools, primarily Church of England and Roman Catholic, constitute approximately quarter of English primary schools and about 15 per cent of secondary schools.

 

"Many of them are popular with parents. Many of them achieve comparatively good results. Discussions about the merits - or otherwise - of creationism and intelligent design - should not obscure these facts.

 

"One of the advantages of having a National Curriculum is that parents, pupils, universities and employers can have confidence that schools are obliged to teach important subjects. This means that the nation's children are taught science."

 

 

Stakeholder Response: ATL

 

 

Speaking at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference, Revd Chris Wilson, ATL executive committee member, said: "As a Unitarian Free Christian minister and national officer of ATL, I believe our schools and colleges should celebrate diversity of belief and respect the insights of science and reason. 

 

"Creationism has a role within the religious education syllabus - but it is not a science, should not be treated as such and should not be taught as a valid alternative to evolution. 

 

"Creationism challenges not just science, but also 300 years of biblical scholarship."