UK Organization Promotes the Teaching of Scientific Criticisms of Darwinian Theory

TRUTH IN SCIENCE ^ | 09/25/2006

[SirLinksalot]

From their website :

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Welcome to Truth in Science, a new organisation to promote good science education in the UK. Our initial focus will be on the origin of life and its diversity.

For many years, much of what has been taught in school science lessons about the origin of the living world has been dogmatic and imbalanced. The theory of Darwinian evolution has been presented as scientifically uncontroversial and the only credible explanation of origins. This is despite the National Curriculum which states:

Pupils should be taught…

"how scientific controversies can arise from different ways of interpreting empirical evidence (for example, Darwin's theory of evolution)."

The National Curriculum for Key Stage 4 Science (Sc1: Scientific enquiry)

Few schools have taught this controversy. This is partly because many popular textbooks present Darwinism as the only scientific theory of origins and give little coverage to alternative theories, sometimes misrepresenting them.

New GCSE Science Specifications in September 2006 give a fresh opportunity to reconsider what is taught about origins in science lessons. These specifications place an emphasis on students understanding 'How Science Works'. This concept is explained as follows by the Edexcel Examination Board:

How Science Works is primarily about helping students to engage with and challenge the science they meet in everyday life. Students need to adopt a critical, questioning frame of mind, going ‘behind the scenes’ to understand the workings of science and how it impacts on society and their lives. We consider that it is time for students to be permitted to adopt a critical approach to Darwinism in science lessons. They should be given fair and accurate presentations of alternative views.

In an Ipsos MORI Poll carried out in January 2006 for BBC Horizon , 41% of the respondents thought that Intelligent Design Theory should be taught in school science classes, and 44% believed that Creationism Theory should be taught. An Opinionpanel Research Survey in July 2006 found that 30% of University Students in the UK believe in creation or intelligent design.

There is a modern controversy over Darwin's theory of evolution and the neo-Darwinian synthesis, and this has considerable social, spiritual, moral and ethical implications. Truth in Science promotes the critical examination of Darwinism in schools, as an important component of science education.

[SirLinksalot]

It seems that the impetus to “teaching the controversy” isn't only an American phenomena.

[Redgirl]

ping

[ClearCase_guy]

On the one hand, I'm told that Science is strong, because as new evidence is uncovered, old ideas come under scrutiny and are changed when the evidence warrants it. Therefore, Science is always questioning itself, and always getting better and better because of this.

On the other hand, if someone says:

There is a modern controversy over Darwin's theory of evolution and the neo-Darwinian synthesis, and this has considerable social, spiritual, moral and ethical implications.

Some folks are apt to jump up and down and say "There is no controversy! Every educated person accepts Evolution! Let's move on!"

I find it amusing.

[Coyoteman]

The drivel spreads ===> Placemarker <===

[Redgirl]

The assault on the scientific community continues to spread.

[PatrickHenry]

Thanks, but I don't bother the evolution ping list for creationist threads. Helps to avoid unpleasantness.

[dynoman]

Implausible Life

"Warning to Evolutionists:

You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to give up that right, anything you do say may be so stupid that it destroys what little credibility the theory of evolution has left.

"The theory of evolution suffered another great setback by the publication in 2005 of The Plausibility of Life—Resolving Darwin’s Dilemma by evolutionists Kirschner and Gerhart. They did an excellent job of describing “Darwin’s Dilemma,” and then could not resolve it. With friends like them, evolutionists don’t need any enemies.

Interesting book report there.

[elmer fudd]

Some folks are apt to jump up and down and say "There is no controversy! Every educated person accepts Evolution! Let's move on!"

It's not that there is no controversy or that every scrap of evidence supports evolutionary theory as we currently understand it, it's that there is no other scientific theory to replace it with.

[skeptoid]

"It's not that there is no controversy or that every scrap of evidence supports evolutionary theory as we currently understand it, it's that there is no other scientific theory to replace it with."

You honestly haven't seen ANY evidence that does not support ET???

Check out the Fish out of Time

The evolutionary link that wasn't (isn't, actually, since they're living still.

"Extinction is not and Option"^TM

[skeptoid]

"Extinction is not an Option"TM

[elmer fudd]

How does the existence of the coelacanth in any way contradict evolution and even if it did, what other scientific hypothesis would it support?