The Labour Humanist

Yes, you can have a TV career and not know if the Earth is flat

A creationist talk show host in the US says on air that she doesn't know whether the Earth is flat. Yes folks, perhaps we too often put creationism down to blind faith, when in fact it's often a case of extreme ignorance.  Watch this video clip and be amazed. (The celeb is Sherri Shepherd, presenter of ABC's chat show The View):

DUP creationists: Will they succeed in turning Northern Ireland into the new Kansas?

Is Northern Ireland turning into the new Kansas? The DUP seems intent on importing the lunacies of the American creationists into British politics and education.

Last night Lisburn council voted  to write to all its grammar and secondary  schools encouraging them to teach alternative theories to evolution like 'intelligent  design'. The proposal was made by DUP councillors, but opposed by SDLP and Sinn Fein representatives.  DUP head office is briefing that these stunts are in keeping with party policy.

As the Belfast Telegraph reports, this is not the only move in Ulster to undermine the science education of local pupils:

"DUP MP David Simpson (Upper Bann), who is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, questioned Education Minister Caitriona Ruane on the availability of materials and resources for schools wishing to teach alternative scientific theories to evolution as part of the revised   curriculum."

"Mr Simpson also asked for an assurance that pupils who answer GCSE examination questions outlining creationist or intelligent design explanations for the development of life on Earth, will not be marked lower than pupils who give answers with an evolutionist explanation."

(Yes, you did read that right, he wants pupils to be able to make up non-scientific answers in science exams and not be "marked lower".)

Of equal concern is the response by the NI education department to the Belfast Telegraph which displays zero concern for the educational welfare of children and maximum accommodation of the anti-science zealots:

"In a statement the Department of Education said the teaching of alternative theories was a matter for schools.

  A spokeswoman said: "The revised curriculum offers scope for schools to explore alternative theories to evolution, which could include creationism, if they so wish."

All of which goes against the recent Council of Europe statement that states that Creationism in any of its forms, such as “intelligent design”, is not based on facts, does not use any scientific reasoning and its contents are definitely inappropriate for science classes.

Politicians and the education establishment in Northern Ireland need to do more to defend scientific knowledge or else Ulster will be in danger of becoming known as an educational backwater dominated by religious extremists. The story has already hit the major science blogs in the USA, how long before Louis Theroux will be filming his next show in Lisburn?

DUP wants schools in Northern Ireland to teach creationism in science lessons

Meanwhile, just when you think sanity is returning to politics in Northern Ireland, Dr Ian Paisley's DUP party are attempting to coerce schools into teaching creationism in science lessons as an alternative to evolution.

Tonight will see DUP councillors in Lisburn officially propose a motion that schools in Lisburn  be encouraged to "teach alternative theories to evolution as the origins of the earth, such as Creation and Intelligent Design."

The proposal has been opposed by SDLP councillors and received a mixed response from Ulster Unionist members:

Cllr Givan from the DUP said: "I have never believed in the theory of evolution and, like many people believe in the teaching of creation. I believe science points to creation but our schools are teaching a very narrow remit and many exclude alternative theories to evolution. I have asked the Council to write to local schools encouraging them to give equality of treatment to other theories of the origins of life and how the earth came into existence." However, other committee members voiced their objection to the proposal. The committee's Vice Chairman, SDLP Councillor Peter O'Hagan, said: "I think it is a dangerous road to go down for Lisburn Council to be getting involved in school curriculum.

It's hard to imagine within the mainstream UK education system this loony attempt at undermining children's education would getting anywhere near to succeeding....unless of course, the schools involved were faith schools or city academies, in which case dogma can be given a special place over science. In reading a debate on this story on the Richard Dawkins web site I was rather amused by this response:

Mr Givan said: "I have never believed in the theory of birth by sexual reproduction and, like many people, believe in teaching that the stork is responsible. I believe science points to stork theory but our schools are teaching a very narrow remit and many exclude alternative theories to sexual reproduction. I have asked the Council to write to local schools encouraging them to give equality of treatment to other theories of the origins of life and how babies come into existence."

Labour support for European anti-creationism in schools motion

Well, as we know creationist second hand car salesman are now allowed to take over our schools and push their views at kids for what amounts to small change. And that the "moderate" Church of England are looking at sneaking in a bit of creationism into science lessons in "their" schools. So, in a symbolic kind of way, it's nice to see the Council of Europe pass a very strong resolution with support from delegates from the left and the right about the "dangers of creationism in education". The resolution has been supported by Labour peer Lord McIntosh and Labour MP Denis MacShane - both recent ministers in the government. Here's a snippet that shows the strength of the wording:

"...However, in recent years we have witnessed attempts to reconcile the biblical account of creation with modern science and outlaw the theory of evolution. “Creationists” pretend that “intelligent design” by a supreme entity is the scientific explanation for the universe.

Such an approach has no credibility among the scientific community but has succeeded in raising doubts in less informed minds, including persons with high political responsibilities, mainly in the USA but also in Europe. Some schools are now forced to teach creationism. The middle path of providing equal time for both merely offers a middle way between truth and falsehood."

Fisking the Fox News creationist love-in

This is an amusing video fisking of a Fox News "intelligent design" love-in that was broadcast recently.

Going to church and voting for the right makes you scientifically illiterate

The graphs, consider the graphs of shame! New research shows that people who go to church regularly and/or Republican are most likely to be evolution deniers:

Thanks to BLIGBI

Getting to grips with those huge timescales of evolution

This is a great resource. Children often have trouble conceptualising the huge timescales involved in the development and evolution of life on Earth, in fact, many adults have trouble as well. So have a go yourself and point your mouse and slide through evolution.

Scientific illiteracy brings yet more embarrassment for Republican candidates

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, we've already had in the last week the sight of three Republican contenders for the US Presidency admit they don't "believe" in evolution. Now look at this pickle Senator McCain has got himself into over teaching creationism in...yes you've guessed it school science lessons. Melissa Rogers reports:

"Senator John McCain's staff answers some of the Hotline's questions about McCain's views on evolution, creationism, intelligent design, and their places in elementary and secondary public school education. Here's the bottom line, as described by the Hotline:

McCain believes in evolution, personally believes that :"intelligent design" "creationism" shouldn't be taught in SCIENCE class, but is willing to leave that decision up to the states, ultimately, and also, believes that students should be exposed to the theory elsewhere, presumably in religion or social studies class."

As with David Cameron Senator McCain seems to think truth should be devolved to local committees vulnerable to capture by religious activists - leadership certainly is not the word that comes to mind.

Is David Cameron too scared to take on the Tory creationists?

Some of the country's leading scientists are very angry with David Cameron for his failure, when given an opportunity, to make it clear he was opposed to the idea of creationism being sneaked into children's science lessons by religious zealots. How do we explain this running away from what should be a simple commitment to teach science in science lessons? Is it because he is scared of being contradicted and embarrassed by the hardcore of creationists that exist in the Conservative Party?

This blog has already reported on Rob Wilson, the Conservative Mp for Reading East who, when asked specifically about intelligent design being taught in science lessons, apparently believes "There should be a balanced approach to the various theories of origin.".

And then we have Gary Streeter MP who has been pursued by postblogger in recent months on this question. Streeter, who is prominent in the Conservative Christian Fellowship initially gave this bizarre response when asked to keep science in schools separate from religious fundamentalism:

"I would be very happy to act on this matter as soon as you can prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Creationism is not true, and I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible."

Postblogger persisted and Streeter gave a second reply where he "outed" himself as a believer in, ahem, "intelligent design", and on the question in hand gave these weasel words: "I do not want to promote the teaching of creationism in our schools but nor do I wish to stop it."

Now  we have the Tory leader Cameron saying, when asked to respond to comments by a Conservative candidate for the Welsh Assembly who wants creationism taught in science lessons :

"Personally I don't support the teaching of creationism," but he added, "I'm a great believer that we need to trust schools and governors of schools to get these things right and I think that's the right approach." He said he advocated a "more devolved system" for deciding what schools were allowed to teach."

Cameron bottled it, I mean it should have been a no-brainer defending the proper teaching of science. I suspect Cameron knows that his party has a number of beyond the pale creationists ready to come out of the woodwork if he takes a clear pro-science stance. So much for his "leadership" qualities. As James Randerson reports some of Britain's top scientists are pulling their hair out with Cameron:

"The reaction from scientists has been predictably brutal. Steve Jones, the evolutionary biologist at University College London and distinguished popular science author said:

"They need to devolve some management to schools. I think most people would agree with that. But you can't devolve the truth. Something is either true or it's not and creationism is not.

"If somebody demanded the right to teach in mathematics lessons that 2 and 2 are 5 on faith grounds they would be laughed out of court ... by having this taught in science lessons they are damaging science it's as simple as that."

The developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert, also at UCL said:

"I am shocked that Cameron agrees that creationism can be taught in science lessons. Creationism is not science and is purely religious faith. There is zero evidence for it. We must oppose this. Next the students will be taught that the world was created in six days."

Wow 3 Republican candidates for president don't "believe" in evolution

In the recent TV debate 3 republican contenders for the presidency had to put their hands up, a bit like naughty school boys, when asked who here does not believe in evolution. The three were Tancredo, Huckabee and Brownback. Much mirth at their expense, but I don't think UK Conservatives should be so smug, more on this soon. Here's some more background the youtube clip below, the relevant bit is right at the very end.