A poll has revealed that over half of Brits believe that creationism should be taught alongside evolutionary theory in the classroom.
The research, commissioned by the British Council, found that only 21 per cent of Britons believe that evolution should be taught, while one in ten felt it shouldn't be taught at all.
What do you think? Should creationism be taught alongside evolutionary theory? Should evolution be taught at all? Do we have a duty to teach children the whole range of debates surrounding an issue?
I can't believe that such a high percentage believe it should be taught. Creationism isn't an 'alternate theory', it's a madcap idea pursued by the religious right and evangelical zealots. If it must be taught, it must be as an argument from very few (with an agenda) with NO proof, unlike evolution.
hmm tricky. How will it be enforced? Would teachers pick and choose what they wanted to teach? If that happens then nothing will change. I am assuming they already cover creationism in Christian schools and I recall doing evolutionary theory at a non-faith school so what's new really? Unless the gov said the curriculum had to cover both but then that could get pretty confusing for kids.
I think religion should be left at home and schools should be multi-faith and secular in nature.
I'm not religious, but I think evolution is just a theory, like creationism is just a theory. All ideas should be taught as such- as possible concepts- and students should be told the arguments behind each, and left to make up their own minds. The best form of education is not feeding children 'facts' as 'truth', but allowing them to become independent thinkers.
If you want your children to learn about creationism, send them to church or to a faith school. Evolution is scientic facts taught to children as science lessons. Creationism isn't scientific fact, it's a theory.
as a child, i was religious - but only because it was the lifestyle and culture i was born into. Religion should be taught as an optional extra, with a multi-faith discipline. We send our children to school to learn facts. When they mature and are capable of making an informed decision, they can then decide from the facts they have learned from first-hand experience of life. Evolotion is being proved every day of our lives. We have an eternity of proof of evolution ahead of us - but only a few thousand years of religion behind us. As we develop further, religion, in general, will fade to Tooth Fairy, Halloween or Harvest Festival status and be something from 'the old days'.
i'm always cautious with these polls as so much is taken out of context but how can anyone believe that evolution shouldn't be taught? i think creationism should be taught too (even though i don't believe in it personally) but one belongs in biology lessons and the other in religious education and as fountainhead says, students shouldn't be steered in either direction but left to form their own opinions
Studying religion as a subject in itself is one thing. I think it's great if kids learn about different religions and their beliefs. Putting religious studies into science class sounds crazy though - I completely agree with Fuzz56 on this one.
I agree Joey, religion and science just don't mix. Both have their place but they're very separate.
I have to say I find it scary this many people believe in creationism but each to their own!
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