Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism
The Guardian ^ | 23 December 2008 | James Randerson

Posted on 12/23/2008 2:38:26 PM PST by CE2949BB

More than a quarter of science teachers in state schools believe that creationism should be taught alongside evolution in science lessons, according to a national poll of primary and secondary teachers.

The Ipsos/Mori poll of 923 primary and secondary teachers found that 29% of science specialists agreed with the statement: "Alongside the theory of evolution and the Big Bang theory, creationism should be TAUGHT in science lessons"

Some 65% of science specialists disagreed with the statement. When asked if creationism should be "discussed" alongside evolution and the Big Bang 73% of science specialists agreed.

That such a large minority of science teachers advocate teaching creationism has dismayed prominent scientists who believe supernatural explanations for the origin of the universe have no place in school science lessons. Professor Richard Dawkins, Britain's best-known evolutionary biologist and a leading secularist, called the findings "a national disgrace".

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: creationism; dawkins; evolution; philosophy; publikskoolz
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

1 posted on 12/23/2008 2:38:30 PM PST by CE2949BB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

I would have to know a lot more about the poll, especially the TYPE of scientists before I would accept this as anything other than, at best, anecdotal.

Real scientists know that Creationism, while an interesting belief, meets exactly zero criteria of a scientific theory.

And that doesn’t even address the issue of whose creationism should be taught. Christian? Shinto? Hindu? Wicca? islam? Other then the group size of the adherents, how does one objectively determine which is the proper “alternate?”


2 posted on 12/23/2008 2:44:48 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Der neuen Fuhrer: AKA the Murdering Messiah: Keep your powder dry, folks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB

75% would and do teach that the world is an accident caused by Karl Marx and a meteor from the lost planet Utopio.


3 posted on 12/23/2008 2:50:18 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
...Would you Adam and Eve it?...

I would be happy to start my own planet.

4 posted on 12/23/2008 2:52:04 PM PST by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

I’ll never, ever swallow the notion we evolved from apes...however; I’m not so sure I’d like gubmit school teachers teaching anything to do with my beliefs as a Christian....


5 posted on 12/23/2008 2:52:19 PM PST by scottdeus12 (Jesus is real, whether you believe in Him or not.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

Not unexpected, considering that nearly half of all people are below average.


6 posted on 12/23/2008 2:53:52 PM PST by js1138
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: scottdeus12
Many wouldn't be teaching your beliefs as a Christian, I am sure.

Are 25% of British primary and secondary teacher Muslims? How many of that 25% are British Christians and how many are British Muslims?

7 posted on 12/23/2008 2:55:12 PM PST by allmendream (Wealth is EARNED not distributed, so how could it be redistributed?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: scottdeus12
I’ll never, ever swallow the notion we evolved from apes...however; I’m not so sure I’d like gubmit school teachers teaching anything to do with my beliefs as a Christian....

Fair is fair. If we let the govt to introduce specific religions into schools, they can (and will) select religions that completely contravene the parents' belief systems.

8 posted on 12/23/2008 2:56:29 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Der neuen Fuhrer: AKA the Murdering Messiah: Keep your powder dry, folks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
Why are they mutually exclusive? God could have used evolution as part of His master plan for the development of soul bearing human beings.
9 posted on 12/23/2008 2:56:46 PM PST by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

... and out come the anti-Christians, loving to trash God and His creation. So eager for any morsel that suggests that those who believe God created “all this” are ignorant, unscientific, uninformed, easily led, yada yada....


10 posted on 12/23/2008 2:58:49 PM PST by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: js1138
Not unexpected, considering that nearly half of all people are below average.

Translated: Stupid people believe creation, smart people believe evolution.

Not very subtle.

Nothing like the arrogance of people who think they have all the answers.

11 posted on 12/23/2008 2:59:20 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Don Corleone

... and then we have the Christians who expose their unfamiliarity with the Holy Scriptures by suggesting that God used cycles of death to bring about “good.”


12 posted on 12/23/2008 3:00:04 PM PST by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

“Fair is fair. If we let the govt to introduce specific religions into schools, they can (and will) select religions that completely contravene the parents’ belief systems.”

They already have.....Evolution/Darwinism, Global Warming...the list goes on and on....


13 posted on 12/23/2008 3:02:26 PM PST by scottdeus12 (Jesus is real, whether you believe in Him or not.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

*Creationism* pretty much by default means the creation account from the Bible.

Even the evos acknowledge that in practice because the minute someone says something about *created* they get labeled as a YEC, 6 Day, 6,000 year ago, Bible literalist.

The only time other creation accounts come into question is in this situation to complicate it by demanding an all or nothing scenario to keep it out of the public schools.


14 posted on 12/23/2008 3:03:24 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB
More than a quarter of science teachers in state schools

Given the state of science teaching in state schools: namely that most of those teachers of science are not scientists, and that most of them are likely lazy liberals, of course they would like to not have to teach science any more. Day one -- God did it. The rest of the school year is study hall.

15 posted on 12/23/2008 3:05:05 PM PST by Aroostook25
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003
I would have to know a lot more about the poll, especially the TYPE of scientists before I would accept this as anything other than, at best, anecdotal.

Not "scientists". "Primary and secodary science teachers".

Not sure if the UK school system operatates like many of ours, where in the primary grades the same teacher covers all the subjects, and if so were they included as "science teachers".

16 posted on 12/23/2008 3:10:22 PM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Theo

Yup. You said it about yourself, I didn’t.

You can’t pick and chose with science.
Then cloning plants and many scientific medical advances, ie gene therapy can also go into the trash.

I’m a Christian who believes in evolution and it in no way contradicts my religious beliefs. My God is big enough to handle evolution.


17 posted on 12/23/2008 3:11:27 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (FREE BLAGO !!! LET HIM SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CE2949BB; metmom
When asked if creationism should be "discussed" alongside evolution and the Big Bang 73% of science specialists agreed.

Hard to believe that the stomping grounds of Chuck is more "forgiving" of deviation from the dogma than the U.S. is. Here even a sticker saying keep an open mind is verboten.

18 posted on 12/23/2008 3:12:31 PM PST by AndrewC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AndrewC
Hard to believe that the stomping grounds of Chuck is more "forgiving" of deviation from the dogma than the U.S. is.

You'll make that conclusion based on a report that 73% of them think it should be "discussed", without knowing what they think should be said about it?

19 posted on 12/23/2008 3:18:14 PM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: allmendream
How many of that 25% are British Christians and how many are British Muslims?

In UK Creationist Christians and Muslims combined wouldn't total 29% (the actual figure of agreers). Restrict it to teachers and the total would be even lower.

However I am prepared to believe that 29% of teachers are maroons

20 posted on 12/23/2008 3:21:18 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (Kill the English their concept of individual rights might undermine the power of our beloved tyrants)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson