Free schools that teach 'intelligent design' as science will lose funding

[Tank]

Free schools that teach 'intelligent design' as science will lose funding

Leading scientists and naturalists, including Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir David Attenborough, are claiming a victory over the creationist movement after the government ratified measures that will bar anti-evolution groups from teaching creationism in science classes.

The Department for Education has revised its model funding agreement, allowing the education secretary to withdraw cash from schools that fail to meet strict criteria relating to what they teach. Under the new agreement, funding will be withdrawn for any free school that teaches what it claims are "evidence-based views or theories" that run "contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations".

The British Humanist Association (BHA), which has led a campaign against creationism – the movement that denies Darwinian evolution and claims that the Earth and all its life was created by God – described the move as "highly significant" and predicted that it would have implications for other faith groups looking to run schools.

Dawkins, who was one of the leading lights in the campaign, welcomed confirmation that creationists would not receive funding to run free schools if they sought to portray their views as science. "I welcome all moves to ensure that creationism is not taught as fact in schools," he said. "Government rules on this are extremely welcome, but they need to be properly enforced."

Free schools, which are state-funded and run by local people or organisations, do not need to follow the national curriculum. Scientific groups have expressed concerns that their spread will see a reduction in the teaching of evolution in the classroom...

Absolutely wonderful news! And before anybody starts jumping up and down about 'freedom to talk bollocks', in the UK there are RE classes where it would be perfectly acceptable to discuss/teach the tenants on creationism. This is just about keeping mythology out of the science classroom.

[Recusant]

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms. 

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

[Tank]

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms. 

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

Fortunatly there is the keyword 'considering'!

[Firebird]

They already had one federal judge in Pennsylvania reject ID as just another name for creationism, which is already banned, so hopefully the courts will step in if this actually happens. So thankful for that pesky Establishment cause.

[Asmodean]

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms.  

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

Fortunatly there is the keyword 'considering'!

UNfortunately, the other keyword be "USA" 

[Ali]

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms. 

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

*face palm*  It's a little embarrassing that I just admitted to being from MO in the "where are you from" thread...

I can't imagine this law will not be overturned if it passes.  The Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that creationism can't be taught in schools to "balance out" the teaching of evolution, and the 2005 Dover case should add precedent to the idea that you don't have to teach creationism in a science class room.

[Sweetdeath]

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms.  

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

Fortunatly there is the keyword 'considering'!

UNfortunately, the other keyword be "USA" 

Good point, Asmo.
Also, Missouri... Yesh. Sometimes I forget each state has their own laws of govern. How is that united in any way?

[Crow]

[DeterminedJuliet]

It drives me crazy when people try to use "democracy" to push these kinds of things in school. Knowledge is not a democratic process!

[Buddy]

It drives me crazy when people try to use "democracy" to push these kinds of things in school. Knowledge is not a democratic process!

Most people confuse democracy with doing whatever they please. 

[Recusant]

I'm sorry to have caused an immediate (negative) derail to a thread that was intended to be positive, Tank.  I should have started a new one and left this one as a celebration.

[Guardian85]

About time we had some good news in the I.D. front. Helps rebuild my crumbling faith in humanity.

Good stuff. Meanwhile Missouri legislators will be considering a bill requiring the teaching of Intelligent Design in science classrooms. 

The Midwest Democracy Project | "Missouri bill would mandate teaching 'intelligent design' "

National Center for Science Education | ' "Intelligent design" bill in Missouri'

*face palm*  It's a little embarrassing that I just admitted to being from MO in the "where are you from" thread...

I can't imagine this law will not be overturned if it passes.  The Supreme Court ruled in 1987 that creationism can't be taught in schools to "balance out" the teaching of evolution, and the 2005 Dover case should add precedent to the idea that you don't have to teach creationism in a science class room.

Well, sounds like you have your work cut out for you. If you have the time, write a letter for a local paper, get a petition going, or just call your local rep in the state legislature. Wish I was close enough to help.

[m.condon]

I really need to move out to the UK except I would like to still have hope for America. In NH A senator just proposed legislation that would require evolution and such to be taught as just one possible theory. Here is the link to the articlehttp://www.usanap.org/news/the-national-atheist-party-blast-nh-for-putting-forth-anti-evolution-legislation.html/
Not spamming anything, just relevant. I doubt it will pass but whoever tries to shoot it down will be seen as a godless liberal. I love how much more forward thinking the UK is, atleast from my perspective. and I always find foreign opinions of America very enlightening