Free schools will not teach creationism, says Department for Education

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

Free schools will not teach creationism, says Department for Education
Government spokesman says the education secretary is 'crystal clear' that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact
Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent guardian.co.uk,
Monday 21 March 2011 18.11 GMT

The Department for Education has said Michael Gove is "crystal clear that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact" after a warning that the government's new free schools could be exploited by fundamentalist churches looking to promote a literal interpretation of the Bible.

The remarks follow a letter to the education secretary from the British Centre for Science Education (BCSE) suggesting that creationists planned to use government legislation on free schools to mount a "concerted attack" on science education.

Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents. They will have more freedom over the contents of their curriculum, leading to fears that science teaching in the schools may not be as rigorous. Teachers working at free schools will also not need to have formal teaching qualifications.

The BCSE, which describes itself as the leading anti-creationist organisation in Europe, wrote to Gove to express its "extreme concern" at applications from groups such as the Everyday Champions Church and the Christian Schools Trust to run free schools.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/mar/21/free-schools-creationism-department-education

[AKDavy]

1. That's ironic

Knowledge is free...

But stupid costs money.

[Journeyman]

2. Now that's funny . . .

[felix_numinous]

5. +1000

LOL Good one :thumbsup: :thumbsup: That should be a bumper sticker!!

[forty6]

3. Of course they wouldn't allow it in the UK, but in the USA? Those ..

home schooled, those private religious schools, no problem with getting taxpayer breaks and being allowed to teach whatever they want.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. This isn't about tax breaks - these school are completely state funded

Yes, if a private school in the UK can qualify as a charity (and most can, I think), then they may get tax breaks and be able to teach creationism. There are already 'foundation schools', which have required the sponsoring person or organisation to put up some money to start the school, though some of that, and all running costs, come from the taxpayer, and the BCSE has already documented how some of those have heads and science teachers who push creationism. These new 'free schools' don't need the founding group to put up any money - just to have organised themselves enough that the central government (not local) is convince they will stick with the school. So now, you don't even have to be rich to get creationism taught at state schools - just fanatical.

[LeftishBrit]

4. I am sure that creationism will never be made part of our national curriculum...

However, the curriculum of the 'free schools' would not be under government control to the same extent; and teachers won't need to have formal teaching qualifications. Therefore such schools could end up doing all sorts of things. Here's an article (from a source if anything likely to be biased in *favour* of such schools) describing some of the concerns over applications by the Everyday Champions Church:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8305627/Evangelical-church-based-around-creationism-plans-to-open-free-school.html


And here is an article from a few years ago about the problem of creationist teaching in some mostly private Christian (and Muslim) schools in Britain:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/creationism-debate-moves-to-britain-478576.html


Though Gove clearly does not endorse creationist teaching, he may have little control of what happens in such 'free' schools, *despite the fact, that they will be funded by the taxpayer*.

[RedCloud]

6. They should allow primates in the Anglican church!

Oh wait. They do.

[Solly Mack]

8. ...

Thanks for posting this!

[bigworld]

9. Wow, our DoE finally gets some cajones!

Oh, Britain. Of course.

Would love to see Arne Duncan come out and say something as sane as this.