Creationism 'no place in schools'

[DELUSIONAL]

This is from Scientists in Britain. Even there they have some right wing religious nuts -- remember it was from England that the Puritans came to wreck their vengeance upon the "New world".


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4896652.stm

Leading scientists have warned against the teaching of creationism in schools, saying pupils must be clear that science backs the theory of evolution.

The Royal Society statement comes after claims that some schools are promoting creationism alongside evolution.

Meanwhile, delegates at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' conference rejected calls for legislation to ban the teaching of creationism.

The Department for Education said that creationism was not taught in schools.

The Royal Society's statement said some pupils may wish to "explore the compatibility, or otherwise, of science with various beliefs, and they should be encouraged to do so".

"However young people are poorly served by deliberate attempts to withhold, distort or misrepresent scientific knowledge and understanding in order to promote particular religious beliefs."

Fossil record

It added: "A belief that all species on Earth have always existed in their present form is not consistent with the wealth of evidence for evolution, such as the fossil record.

"Similarly, a belief that the Earth was formed in 4004BC is not consistent with the evidence from geology, astronomy and physics that the solar system, including Earth, formed about 4,600 million years ago."

[Montagnard]

1. They can teach Creationism in Sunday school

It isn’t a science…

[stepnw1f]

2. Creationism is a Fairytale for Idiots

Which means it does not belong in schools.

[Strong Atheist]

5. ROFLMAO!

:yourock:

[pepperbear]

3. OH AND UH BY THE WAY....

...this from a country that does have an established church! I lived there on two separate occasions and attended their primary schools, prayer service every morning, students with different beliefs able to opt out and no bad feelings among the kids.

I am certainly NOT advocating that here by any means, but I just find it quite ironic, that their government (well, I guess really their monarchy in regards to the church)can reconcile the two so well.

Why can't we?!?!?!

:shrug:

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. British state school creationist may be involved in cash for honours

Peter Vardy, chairman of national car dealership chain Reg Vardy, also receives a knighthood for services to education in his native North-East.

Mr Vardy, a committed Christian, has been at the forefront of business involvement in education and has sponsored a number of new schools and colleges in the area.

BBC, June 2001

Top school's creationists preach value of biblical story over evolution

Fundamentalist Christians who do not believe in evolution have taken control of a state-funded secondary school in England. In a development which will astonish many British parents, creationist teachers at the city technology college in Gateshead are undermining the scientific teaching of biology in favour of persuading pupils of the literal truth of the Bible.

Emmanuel College - set up by the Tories - is designated a beacon school by the Labour government and its backers are sponsoring a city academy to be built in nearby Middlesbrough.
...
The school is hosting a creationist conference this weekend and senior staff have given a series of lectures at the college urging teachers to promote biblical fundamentalism and giving tips on techniques to make pupils doubt the theory of evolution.
...
It was built with £2m of sponsorship from Sir Peter Vardy, the multimillionaire entrepreneur behind the Reg Vardy car dealerships, who remains chairman of the college's board of directors.

Guardian, March 2002

Sir Peter Vardy: Well, I think there are varying views on both sides of this argument - both on the creationist side and on the evolution, and there are obviously some folks that are poles apart on their interpretation. I obviously for my own part believe in the Bible and that God created the earth and all that there is in it.

Presenter: Is it the very best in education to teach children Darwinism, evolution and creationism as equal theories, to give them equal weight, when numerous scientists have said that creationism may be valid in the religious education classes but not as a science?

Sir Peter Vardy: Well, numerous scientists also support creationism, so it is a view, it is an opinion that people form. One size does not fit all and what is being rammed down our throats at the moment is that evolution is right and creationism is wrong.

Presenter: Are you trying to redress that balance then?

Sir Peter Vardy: Well, we need to present both. I mean, we live in Christian England. Who started education? It was the churches that started education, and it's amazing that it's come as such a surprise now that churches and Christians believe in creation.

BBC interview, March 2002

Revealed: cash for honours scandal

PRIVATE donors to Tony Blair’s controversial city academies can obtain honours and peerages by sponsoring the schools, a senior adviser to the programme has revealed.

Des Smith, a council member of the trust that helps recruit sponsors for academies, disclosed that if a donor gave sufficient money, he could be nominated for an OBE, CBE or even a knighthood.

He described what appeared to be a tariff system, in which a benefactor who gave to “one or two” academies might receive such an honour while a donor who gave to five would be “a certainty” for a peerage.

Smith’s comments came during an undercover investigation by The Sunday Times. Suspicions of a link between honours and donations to academies — Blair’s scheme for new privately backed schools — have existed since the ambitious programme of establishing up to 200 academies began in 2001. Six of the biggest academy sponsors have already been honoured after pledging their money.

Sunday Times, Jan 2006

Honours probe head teacher bailed

A head teacher arrested as part of a cash for honours probe has been freed on bail "to return... pending further inquiries", Scotland Yard has said.

Des Smith, 60, had been held for questioning under the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act.

In January, he had suggested sponsors for the government's flagship city academies programme would be given honours in exchange for funding.

Mr Smith later quit his post with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

BBC, today

[MercutioATC]

6. It's a valid part of any comparative religion or history class...

...just not a science class.