Creationism in New Schools

One of the most worrying things about the UK governments initiative to allow parents, teachers, charities and other groups to set up their own schools is just what the agenda of those setting up theses schools will be and how qualified the teachers will be.

 

There will be a standard curriculum to follow to qualify but it is what they teach in addition to that and the ethos of the running organisation that will have a great affect on the standard of education given.

 

Not surprising many of these potential schools are faith based all aiming to teach (indoctrinate) their kids in their chosen faith including some with what seems to be a creationist agenda, where they will be required to teach the Theory of Evolution in science but push literal Biblical creation as a better option to ‘just a theory’.

 

 

Things could easily go the way of some of the educational establishments in the us where 16% of US science teachers are creationists. 

 

 Even more worrying is that it says a "quarter of the teachers also reported spending at least some time teaching about creationism or intelligent design. Of these, 48% – about 12.5% of the total survey – said they taught it as a "valid, scientific alternative to Darwinian explanations for the origin of species".

 

 

 

It begs the question - What science qualifications do you need to teach kids in the US, if any? I know it is possible to buy degrees, doctorates, teaching qualifications etc., by mail order in the States and It also seems easy to set up non-accredited colleges and universities - mostly Bible types. When you look into the qualifications of most creationists they have degrees from such non-accredited sources.

So the worry remains - how strictly will these schools be regulated and the qualifications and ability of the teachers in these new schools be checked and monitored?