Rise of creationism in UK schools

November 28th, 2006 · 1 Comment

Sadly that after the failure to promote Intelligent Design in US, creationists are starting to rear their heads in UK…

Isn’t it obvious to people that ID is not scientific?
James Randerson, science correspondent
Monday November 27, 2006
The Guardian

Dozens of schools are using creationist teaching materials condemned by the government as “not appropriate to support the science curriculum”, the Guardian has learned.

The packs promote the creationist alternative to Darwinian evolution called intelligent design and the group behind them said 59 schools are using the information as “a useful classroom resource”.

A teacher at one of the schools said it intended to use the DVDs to present intelligent design as an alternative to Darwinism. Nick Cowan, head of chemistry at Bluecoat school, in Liverpool, said: “Just because it takes a negative look at Darwinism doesn’t mean it is not science. I think to critique Darwinism is quite appropriate.”

But the government has made it clear that “neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognised scientific theories”. The chairman of the parliamentary science and technology select committee, the Lib Dem MP Phil Willis, said he was horrified that the packs were being used in schools.

“I am flabbergasted that any head of science would give credence to this creationist theory and be prepared to put it alongside Darwinism,” he said. “Treating it as an alternative centralist theory alongside Darwinism in science lessons is deeply worrying.”

The teaching pack, which includes two DVDs and a manual, was sent to the head of science at all secondary schools in the country on September 18 by the group Truth in Science. The enclosed feedback postcard was returned by 89 schools. As well as 59 positive responses, 15 were negative or dismissive and 15 said the material was “not suitable”.

“We are not attacking the teaching of Darwinian theory,” said Richard Buggs, a member of Truth in Science. “We are just saying that criticisms of Darwin’s theory should also be taught.”

“Intelligent design looks at empirical evidence in the natural world and says, ‘this is evidence for a designer’. If you go any further the argument does become religious and intelligent design does have religious implications,” added Dr Buggs.