Science teachers' confusion about creationism
Regarding an online survey which suggests many teachers are confused about creationism in the science classroom:
"It looks as if the government needs to do more to communicate its guidelines and to engage with teachers so that there is greater understanding of the difference between treating pupils with respect, which is vital, and teaching as science worldviews that have no scientific grounding and indeed reject scientific research, which is clearly inappropriate," commented Simon Barrow of the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, which says that creationism and ID are bad theology as well as non-science.
"Equally, the Royal Society might reflect further on what it can do, given the rumpus over Professor Michael Reiss's comments [on engaging with pupils], which raised important issues, even if their initial expression was less than helpful."
Ekklesia, a Christian think-tank, is among those, alongside scientists, educationists and the British Humanist Association, who urged the government to adopt clear guidelines in the face of pressure on schools from well-funded creationist lobby groups.
See Ekklesia's briefing paper: 'Theology, science and the problem of ID' - http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/6707