Tuesday, April 11, 2006
UK: Scientists Fight Creationism
The Daily Mail reports that leading scientists "have launched an unprecedented attack on the teaching of creationist theories in Tony Blair's flagship academies.
"Britain's most prestigious scientific body, the Royal Society, said children were being confused by the teaching of the Bible's creation story in science lessons.
"It follows a recent revival in creationist thinking, most notably in three schools supported by multi-millionaire car dealer and evangelical Christian Sir Peter Vardy.
"The schools - a city technology college and two city academies - are allowed to stray from the national curriculum under Labour's controversial scheme to give schools more autonomy if they win private backing."
A statement by the Royal Society said, "Science has proved enormously successful in advancing our understanding of the world, and young people are entitled to learn about scientific knowledge, including evolution.
"Young people are poorly served by deliberate attempts to withhold, distort or misrepresent scientific knowledge and understanding in order to promote particular religious beliefs."
"Britain's most prestigious scientific body, the Royal Society, said children were being confused by the teaching of the Bible's creation story in science lessons.
"It follows a recent revival in creationist thinking, most notably in three schools supported by multi-millionaire car dealer and evangelical Christian Sir Peter Vardy.
"The schools - a city technology college and two city academies - are allowed to stray from the national curriculum under Labour's controversial scheme to give schools more autonomy if they win private backing."
A statement by the Royal Society said, "Science has proved enormously successful in advancing our understanding of the world, and young people are entitled to learn about scientific knowledge, including evolution.
"Young people are poorly served by deliberate attempts to withhold, distort or misrepresent scientific knowledge and understanding in order to promote particular religious beliefs."
