As an opponent of the handover of our community schools to churches and evangelical car salesmen I can't say I am surprised by this story. The Church of England's head of education Jan Ainsworth has said she wants "intelligent design" to "be part" of science lessons in the 4,600 (and rising) schools they control.
What we should consider and learn from this story is that the churches - although knowing they are constricted by public opinion, the national curriculum, the need to get pupils through exams and the overall regulatory environment - are actively seeking out ways in which they can push their beliefs at pupils during science lessons. They know science blows huge holes through their creation myths and they want to undermine and distort the proper teaching of science in order to promote their own beliefs. They are looking for wriggle room on this one calling into even more question why on Earth we are according them so much trust and responsibility.
Amongst other things I personally object to the arrogance of the churches who are given billions in tax payer's money, and given the honour of managing so many of our schools, but then behave, and indeed talk, as if they these are "their" schools.
"Intelligent Design is not a "way of looking at the evidence". It is a way of dismissing the evidence, being a mere variant of biblical creationism. It has no place whatever in courses in the history of science. An educational administrator who doesn't understand that should be hounded from her post."
Quite so, churches are not some neutral volunteers who just happen to take an interest in education - they are an organised vested interest who see the ownership and management of our community schools as a means to their ultimate strategic end - recruiting more members for their churches.
And as Beagle Project recommends, Jan Ainsworth needs to:
"Write down 100 times: Intelligent design is not a theory, it is an opinion with no supporting evidence and is based on an argument from ignorance and incredulity."
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