NationStates Jolt Archive

In another thread Bottle suggested that there ought to be some basic 'this is what you need to know before you start going on about evolution being just a theory' guidelines. Because of my job (I work in an education library) I came across these guidelines from the UK government for schools which I thought fitted the bill quite nicely. For example:

The use of the word ‘theory’ can mislead those not familiar with science as a subject discipline because it is different from the everyday meaning of being little more than a ‘hunch’. In science the meaning is much less tentative and indicates that there is a substantial amount of supporting evidence, underpinned by principles and explanations accepted by the international scientific community. However, it also signals that all scientific knowledge is considered to be provisional as it can be overturned by new evidence if this is validated and accepted by the scientific community.

Creationism and intelligent design are sometimes claimed to be scientific theories. This is not the case as they have no underpinning scientific principles, or explanations, and are not accepted by the science community as a whole. Creationism and intelligent design therefore do not form part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study.

and

Creationism and intelligent design are not part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study and should not be taught as science. However, there is a real difference between teaching ‘x’ and teaching about ‘x’. Any questions about creationism and intelligent design which arise in science lessons, for example as a result of media coverage, could provide the opportunity to explain or explore why they are not considered to be scientific theories and, in the right context, why evolution is considered to be a scientific theory.

The whole document is here:
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/11890/SJA%20Creationism%20Guidance%20180907%20final.doc

Warms the cockles of my heart to see such guidelines from a government department in the UK.

My inner biologist smiles at this show of intelligence on the part of the UK Government, then returns to creating an abomination unto the Lord (http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q100/TheSteveslols/poster70026303.jpg).

Sweet! Both of my kids go to a Church of England secondary school, so imagine my delight and surprise when my oldest brings back geography homework in which he has to find out what it was that geologist James Hutton is famous for.

Bloody marvelous!

<sniff, sniff>

Ah yes...I can smell it...a coming debate on Evolution and Intelligent Design. I say...hmm...

3 pages of posts, and one banning.

<sniff, sniff>

Ah yes...I can smell it...a coming debate on Evolution and Intelligent Design. I say...hmm...

3 pages of posts, and one banning.

Nah, pro-ID posters are few and far between these days. There'll be a few mentions of how certain other countries *coughamericacough* should do something like this, and then we'll get bored of agreeing with each other and the thread will die.

wow... an aspect of education that the government hasn't screwed up yet...

Look for changes coming soon in your local party manifesto!

Nah, pro-ID posters are few and far between these days. There'll be a few mentions of how certain other countries *coughamericacough* should do something like this, and then we'll get bored of agreeing with each other and the thread will die.

It's actually a little saddening. It's been literally MONTHS since we've had a good, long, 100+ page debate on Creationism vs. Evolution. I'm eager with anticipation for the next hardcore Creationist poster to come along and get things going.

It's actually a little saddening. It's been literally MONTHS since we've had a good, long, 100+ page debate on Creationism vs. Evolution. I'm eager with anticipation for the next hardcore Creationist poster to come along and get things going.

I know, they're so much fun. I hardly ever get to be so right for so long.

<sniff, sniff>

Ah yes...I can smell it...a coming debate on Evolution and Intelligent Design. I say...hmm...

3 pages of posts, and one banning.
hang on: Who are you?
23 posts since you created your nation in November 2005?
3 of which were posted today I might add.
Mighty long time lurking there, friend.

It's actually a little saddening. It's been literally MONTHS since we've had a good, long, 100+ page debate on Creationism vs. Evolution. I'm eager with anticipation for the next hardcore Creationist poster to come along and get things going.

The only time they ever get that long is when 50-75 pages of it is Buarong and Jocabia...

Which, I admit, is highly entertaining.

hang on: Who are you?
23 posts since you created your nation in November 2005?
3 of which were posted today I might add.
Mighty long time lurking there, friend.

*is six hundred times more active*

*is six hundred times more active*

You posted 1,800 times today?

course we all know science is just a "theory" which means there is no definite proof of it

hence why hitting your T.V works because what it really does it agitate the magic gnomes :)

Well done. I wonder if we can import some of this scientific knowledge into Kansas, Texas and Georgia and apply it to the appropriate people in aerosol form.


...or pie form. I've noticed that very few medications are applied via pie. :/

I know, they're so much fun. I hardly ever get to be so right for so long.

an, i remember the first time i ever encountered a creationist. i was convinced that they were just playing some sort of joke. nobody could be that wrong and illogical and just plain internally inconsistent, i thought. and they certainly wouldn't be able to keep it up in the face of the evidence. boy was i wrong.

(incidentally, it was this encounter which made me very suspicious of homeschooling)

It's actually a little saddening. It's been literally MONTHS since we've had a good, long, 100+ page debate on Creationism vs. Evolution. I'm eager with anticipation for the next hardcore Creationist poster to come along and get things going.

I know, they're so much fun. I hardly ever get to be so right for so long.
We could always make puppets to argue with everyone. Though I think the mods would call that trolling...

course we all know science is just a "theory" which means there is no definite proof of it

hence why hitting your T.V works because what it really does it agitate the magic gnomes :)

I knew it!

Well done. I wonder if we can import some of this scientific knowledge into Kansas, Texas and Georgia and apply it to the appropriate people in aerosol form.


...or pie form. I've noticed that very few medications are applied via pie. :/

You know, one of these days all that pie-frenzies going to turn around and nail you in the face. In a messy manner I might add :p

Never knew there were so many masochists on this forum. :eek:

Now if only we could get rid of 'faith' schools as well...

You know, one of these days all that pie-frenzies going to turn around and nail you in the face. In a messy manner I might add :p

Promises, promises. :)

Nah, pro-ID posters are few and far between these days. There'll be a few mentions of how certain other countries *coughamericacough* should do something like this, and then we'll get bored of agreeing with each other and the thread will die.

Yeah, too many of the religious types on here have non-ID views on what is typically referred to as "Creation" theology (myself included)... Sic, they are typically Evolutionists, or if nothing else some form of Evolutionary Creationist or Theistic Evolutionist; and sic. have no qualms with evolutionary theory.

Though I'd like to see that implemented in America to counter the fallacy that ID, Literal, Progressive, or Day-Age creationism be taught on par with the scientific theories (which they are not).

I also hate that "Creationists", namely literalists paint a picture that Christianity is united on its view of Creation Theology. It most certainly is not, there are multiple Creation theologies in Christian circles.