• Sense 1, God 0: UK Government bans religious teaching in Free Schools.
    107 replies, posted
[quote]The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed a new revision of the model funding agreement for Free Schools by the Government in order to preclude [B]‘the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations.’ [/B]This highly significant change has been made[B] in order to ban creationism from being taught in Free Schools, and prevent creationist groups from opening schools.[/B] The change follows the BHA coordinating the ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’ campaign, which called for this precise change. In September,[B] the BHA came together with thirty leading scientists and science educators including Sir David Attenborough, Professor Richard Dawkins and Professor Michael Reiss, and five national organisations to launch ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’, which called on the government to introduce statutory guidance against the teaching of creationism and garnered significant press coverage.[/B] The BHA also launched a government e-petition making the same call, which has now garnered over 20,000 signatures. [...] BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, [B]‘We congratulate the government for taking this significant step to prevent creationist Free Schools. There is still further work to be done to ensure that all schools, not just Free Schools, are prevented from teaching creationism[/B], to include evolution in the primary National Curriculum, and to ensure evolution’s teaching in all schools. We look forward to working with the government and all those who care about rational and evidence based education to achieve these additional changes.’[/quote] [URL]http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/961[/URL] Most of the criticism has now been (mostly) removed from Free Schools, effectively removing any possible funding given to religion based education.
Heh, the UK government doing something productive and worthwhile. I guess this really is the final year of Earth.
awesome
I really do not like that wording.
hold the phone, the government did something good?
Love the title of the topic.
Woohoo! Good for you, Brits!
but think of the children!
[QUOTE=JustGman;34152620]but think of the children![/QUOTE]Why do you think they did this?
Kickass. Luckily we don't learn any creationism here anyway.
Rick Perry: Due to dangerous escalation by the British Empire I will declare war on the kingdom if I am elected. Faith made 'merica strong, maybe.. maybe they need some strong too.
UK seems better and better every day
This goes against the usual Conservative values, just the other week Cameron said we're a Christian nation.
I am a bit confused with the title and the posted article. The title suggests that teaching religion (in general) has been banned. Yet the article only says the teaching of creationism. Did I miss something or is the title misleading. In any case if it is just the banning of creationist teachings, good. Frankly, I am surprised this did not happen sooner.
[QUOTE=JgcxCub;34152666]Kickass. Luckily we don't learn any creationism here anyway.[/QUOTE] A bunch of creationists (is that the correct term for them?) wanted to open free schools teaching just creationism so I think there might have actually been a risk of it happening. [editline]11th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Bread_Baron;34152736]This goes against the usual Conservative values, just the other week Cameron said we're a Christian nation.[/QUOTE] A Christian nation that is welcoming to others beliefs. You aren't open to others beliefs if you are ramming creationism down children's throats at a young age.
[QUOTE=dickpickle;34152669]Rick Perry: Due to dangerous escalation by the British Empire I will declare war on the kingdom if I am elected. Faith made 'merica strong, maybe.. maybe they need some strong too.[/QUOTE] Sad thing is, someone would still vote for him.
[QUOTE=-Ben_Wolfe-;34152739]I am a bit confused with the title and the posted article. The title suggests that teaching religion (in general) has been banned. Yet the article only says the teaching of creationism. Did I miss something or is the title misleading.[/QUOTE] Sensationalist Headlines. Though the title is accurate, but in reality it means that they won't fund any schools that have a religious backing, or wish to impose Catholic versions of history/science.
[QUOTE=Jsm;34152764]A bunch of creationists (is that the correct term for them?) wanted to open free schools teaching just creationism so I think there might have actually been a risk of it happening. [editline]11th January 2012[/editline] A Christian nation that is welcoming to others beliefs. You aren't open to others beliefs if you are ramming creationism down children's throats at a young age.[/QUOTE] Good point. I'm glad the government did this, it's wrong that children have religion forced upon them. I wonder how this will effect them singing hymns, hopefully they can find other songs because it's not right that Christian hymns are sung in schools with children of other faiths. It's certainly not welcoming to their beliefs.
Man the UK is lucky.
God save the queen!
[QUOTE=robotman5;34153020]Man the UK is lucky.[/QUOTE] Its banned here too.
sensationalist headlines of the future
Anyone who supports religious classes (like in church)beyond the status of a little after school club in public institutions is an idiot.
by free school, do they mean public school?
[QUOTE=Kopimi;34152733]UK seems better and better every day[/QUOTE] The US already does this you know. The only free schools are government owned and separation of church and state keeps religious teaching out of these schools. Only schools that have religious teaching are private owned.
[QUOTE=geoface;34153126]by free school, do they mean public school?[/QUOTE] No, as in the new fangled 'community' school, established by parents/organizations. Public schools are unaffected by this ruling, since it's basically the same.
Did we mention we have Charles Darwin on our money? :D
[QUOTE=Kopimi;34152733]UK seems better and better every day[/QUOTE] I'm curious as to why an outsider might think this. As a guy born and raised here, I can't wait for the day I move abroad.
[QUOTE=Deckard;34153384]I'm curious as to why an outsider might think this. As a guy born and raised here, I can't wait for the day I move abroad.[/QUOTE] I'm hoping you don't mean US, in which case I reject your opinion and claim the US is alot worse then the UK.
[QUOTE=dickpickle;34153418]I'm hoping you don't mean US, in which case I reject your opinion and claim the US is alot worse then the UK.[/QUOTE] The US is one is one of the most prominent options for me, yes. Mainly due to it's excellence in film combined with the fact I want to work in that area. But anyway, we're getting off topic. Despite my dry comments, the UK isn't all bad and this is definitely a small step in the right direction.
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