"Creationist schools" less likely in UK

[Thinking Aloud]

http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/961

Government changes Free School model funding agreement to ban creationist schools

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 ‘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.’ This highly significant change has been made in order to ban creationism from being taught in Free Schools, and prevent creationist groups from opening schools. The change follows the BHA coordinating the ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’ campaign, which called for this precise change.

More above.

[klr]

Excellent news

[cowiz]

Exactly how much more less likely? We need numbers!

[Svartalf]

Thank God for that

[Thinking Aloud]

Exactly how much more less likely? We need numbers!

I was keeping my thread title deliberately vague so that no-one could accuse me of bias or anything by pedantry.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

From my read it means they will not get much, if any, government funding if they teach creationism. So the number would be limited by the amount of private funding they can get. As not that many people in the UK believe in creationism this would be small source of funds, I think.

[Pappa]

Exactly how much more less likely? We need numbers!

I was keeping my thread title deliberately vague so that no-one could accuse me of bias or anything by pedantry.

Bastard!

[Flora]

From my read it means they will not get much, if any, government funding if they teach creationism. So the number would be limited by the amount of private funding they can get. As not that many people in the UK believe in creationism this would be small source of funds, I think.

You're right, they won't get any public funding to set up a free school if they teach creationism. Here's an example of a recently failed bid by a creationist church group:

The school’s bid was rejected on Monday, and the reason is now known. In having their bid rejected, the Church was told by the Department for Education that ‘The Secretary of State carefully considered your application, the views and beliefs of your organisation as set out in your application, your responses at interview and information about your organisation available in the public domain. He was unable to accept that an organisation with creationist beliefs could prevent these views being reflected in the teaching in the school and in its other activities. It is his firm view that the teaching of creationist views as a potentially valid alternative theory is not acceptable in a 21st century state funded school.’

They are now going to try and apply again and convince the government they won't teach creationism in science lessons so the British Humanist Association and others are on their case.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Thanks! And howdy! Long time no read.

[Ronja]

Here's an example of a recently failed bid by a creationist church group:

The school’s bid was rejected on Monday, and the reason is now known. In having their bid rejected, the Church was told by the Department for Education that ‘The Secretary of State carefully considered your application, the views and beliefs of your organisation as set out in your application, your responses at interview and information about your organisation available in the public domain. He was unable to accept that an organisation with creationist beliefs could prevent these views being reflected in the teaching in the school and in its other activities. It is his firm view that the teaching of creationist views as a potentially valid alternative theory is not acceptable in a 21st century state funded school.’

They are now going to try and apply again and convince the government they won't teach creationism in science lessons so the British Humanist Association and others are on their case.

We don't have a big enough or or smiley for that. At least something is going the right way in contemporary education!

Thanks for posting that Flora - and nice to see you around, it's been a while. Happy new year!

[Horwood Beer-Master]

From my read it means they will not get much, if any, government funding if they teach creationism. So the number would be limited by the amount of private funding they can get. As not that many people in the UK believe in creationism this would be small source of funds, I think.

Unless they get their funding from evangelical groups in the US - a not unlikely scenario.

[Flora]

From my read it means they will not get much, if any, government funding if they teach creationism. So the number would be limited by the amount of private funding they can get. As not that many people in the UK believe in creationism this would be small source of funds, I think.

Unless they get their funding from evangelical groups in the US - a not unlikely scenario.

I think some of them already do eg lots of the private creationist schools use a US produced curriculum and resources so I'm sure there are strong links.

[Flora]

Thanks! And howdy! Long time no read.

[Flora]

Thanks for posting that Flora - and nice to see you around, it's been a while. Happy new year!

[Ronja]

From my read it means they will not get much, if any, government funding if they teach creationism. So the number would be limited by the amount of private funding they can get. As not that many people in the UK believe in creationism this would be small source of funds, I think.

Unless they get their funding from evangelical groups in the US - a not unlikely scenario.

That did cross my mind, too, seeing as evangelicals are "exporting" actively also to Finland: http://tiihonen.blogspot.com/2007/05/ki ... kijat.html

Notice the link to Revival Ministries International on the upper right?