There is an interesting statement from the Council of Europe.
http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?lin...7/ERES1580.htm
Yeah, they have a list of valid concerns. Its a good listing of the errors in allowing it to become mainstream.
Didn't Tony Blair (remember him?) defend the setting up of a school teaching creationism on the usual weaselly grounds of "diversity"? We're constantly told this country isn't turning out enough science-educated people. The universities must know about these schools. Would a university want to accept someone to read for a geology degree if they knew that person was educated at a school which taught the world is a few thousand years old, and geology is a lie?
Actually, of course, the world was made by Slartibartfast.
TB said he'd be concerned about creationism if it were to become believed by the majority, but then he needed religious businessmen to bankroll his "academies."
Ah, this Tony Blair? From the far too recent Benightedment?
http://newhumanist.org.uk/605
' One senior member of staff explained that "a Christian teacher of biology will not or should not regard the theory of evolution as axiomatic, but will oppose it." Blair is determined to build more 'faith-based schools', of course, and the news strengthened the misgivings of those who suspect that such academies proselytise rather than educate.
He had his chance to allay their fears in the House of Commons on 13 March last year, when Jenny Tonge MP asked if the prime minister was "happy to allow the teaching of creationism alongside Darwin's theory of evolution in state schools." A simple 'no' was surely the only possible answer; but it was not the answer he gave. Blair told Jenny Tonge that the creationists at Emmanuel College were doing a splendid job. "In the end," he said, "a more diverse school system will deliver better results for our children."
A few Labour backbenchers gawped in amazement as the significance of his remark sank in. Here was the leader of a supposedly secular, progressive government who, on being invited to assert that probable truth is preferable to palpable falsehood, pointedly refused to seize the opportunity —and indeed justified the teaching of bad science in the name of "diversity".'
What a great document. Every policy maker in the world should be presented with something similar.
People talk about human rights.
Shouldn't children have the right to learn the truth.
Let them choose to be creationists when they are old enough to decide for themselves, knowing all the facts.
Creationism is the thin edge of the wedge. Those who have the power to affect change can allow no appeasement.
Going on in an infant school near you.
Rather than teaching Creationism/ID along side evolution in a science lesson, or all creation stories as myth/RE, at my son's school they teach only the classic creation story. After my complaints the huge mural of the creation story covering one wall of the classroom now has the caption "Christians believe...."
This is a non-faith state school.
At this time of year the 'de-programming' is almost nightly. School's shouldn't be allowed to brainwash four/five/six year olds.
In the USA, there is a creationist movie (Expelled) that is being "screened" before general release. The producers interviewed Richard Dawkins, and our own PZ Myers, under false pretenses. Last night it was shown near Myers' home and he was singled out and banned from seeing it. However, his guest (one R. Dawkins) was unrecognized and allowed in. Dawkins report on the movie will be interesting, as will the producers' response to the double gaffe (expelling one, but not the other).
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/expelled.php
Yay for Europe!!
Does anyone know if ERES1580 has been signed up to by the UK gov? If so the teaching of creationism could be contestable!Originally Posted by MischiefMonkey
Bwahahahahahaha
Rofl
There are quite a few links to the issue of Dawkins seeing the creationist movie Expelled at this forum:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=109409
Just now, it stands at 38 posts. It includes information on the disinformation campaign begun, immediately, on the night of the incident, and a video of Dawkins and Myers discussing it.
When I questioned the head, she said it was part of a RE lesson. I would assume that considering their concession - the 'this is what Christians believe' label - this would be an acceptable defense? Though it did cover an entire bliddy wall and they didn't teach any other creation myth.
And I have to be honest and admit my 'moral high ground' isn't that high as Son told his teacher that the FSM created the worldFirst the mountains, trees and midgets.
We are currently dealing with Jesus's 40 days & 40 nights. Again accepted as literal by my six year oldBetter than last easter I suppose when he lectured me that Jesus died for us, and got quite upset about the whole thing.
Would it be very wrong to let a six year old watch Life of Brian?
I wouldn't think so, I weaned my kids on this sort of thing, and they survived. Has led to more than a little discord with some of their classmates, so need to have a degree of confidence in their ability to be 'outsiders'. Seems unkind at such a tender age at first glance, but in reality the playground is full of such discord, given how firmly entrenched opinions are on all sorts of things (best pokemon etc) at that age.
Heh! My girlfriend's 12 year old lad happily dismisses the bible as a load of rubbish, but he also believes passionately in the Loch Ness Monster "because plesiosaurs are, like, really, really 'wikkid'...".
And I have to be honest and admit my 'moral high ground' isn't that high as Son told his teacher that the FSM created the world
Argumentum ad Wikkidum, I reckon.
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