Do you think there is a chance of Intelligent Design ever being taught in English Public Schools?

Question

I don't think there is any chance whatsoever of them humouring it. Anyone else think differently?

Is there a Good reason why?

Is there a Good reason why?

Zapp I got banned from R.E class.

Answer 1

I hope it won't be taught, and I don't think it will.

The problem with teaching "Intelligent Design" is that it doesn't really fit what Creationists want to teach anyways. So any real effort to get it in is going to face opposition from the outside through real scientists, and opposition from within through Creationists who think they are selling out.

+++++++Ack!++++++

Turn me over and call me stupid- I just re-read your question and realized that you mean schools in England, rather than English speaking schools.

My opinion still holds, but as an American Liberal, I also want to add that I always assume that there aren't really any fundamentalists in Great Britain.

Which I guess is probably wrong.

Answer 2

When you say English public schools do you mean England English, or American English? In America........ I think there is actually a chance. Look they already teach Evolution which goes against the Genesis account, as well as many other religious teachings and creation myths, so the schools are not entirely secular now anyway. I personally do not think Intelligent Design should be taught in the public school because it is too easy for a teacher to teach indoctrination, and will not be academic.

Take a political science class for instance. An academic teacher shows the roots of Republicanism, explains communism, etc. An indoctrinating teacher attempts to persuade the students of the merits of one political ideology. In the same way many teachers today indoctrinate Evolution, say that it is a fact, etc. I think the public schools should only be academic, and show that the majority of scientists accept Evolution, and give evidence as to why. But there should be no statement by the teacher that Evolution is a fact or that any religious creation myth is wrong, because that violates Separation of Church and State. Similarly, IF Intelligent Design was taught, it should only be academic. Show why some scientists lean toward Intelligent Design and the reasons for it.

Either way, the teacher should try to remain neutral, show only the evidence, and leave it to the students to decide if the evidence is factual, or if it is lacking.

Answer 3

I hope that never comes to pass. Intelligent design is purely a religious ideal. There is supposed to be a seperation of church and state, not "this is what science says, and this is what christianity says". If we are going to teach intelligent design then we might as well teach EVERY SINGLE creation theory just to be "fair". Teach people about how the universe was created in according to the Hindus and make it mandatory. Teach them Cronus and the earth goddess from the Greek religion. Only when you cover ALL the bases will I ever find it even slightly acceptable to teach a religion belief in a public shcool.

Now, I wouldn't mind if it was an optional religious class that taught/explained the various major world religions, but in no way, form, or fashion should a religious belief be a mandatory class agenda.

Answer 4

No, the British have accepted the need for both proof and faith in people's lives, and also that proof and faith are only very loosely connected (i.e. that faith is belief with a lack of proof), which is why religion and biology are both taught but in separate classes.

EDIT: Zapp, I got taught about religions other than Christianity in RE when I was at school. Jeff, they do teach about the Holocaust in history classes.

Answer 5

Definitely not. While I often wonder what the hell you guys are thinking, at least you aren't religion crazed like the US. Imagine some US yokel trying to start that argument in the UK!

Answer 6

There's always a "chance", but it will mostlikely lead to lawsuits like Dover, and another embarrassing defeat for ID supporters.

Answer 7

I may be misunderstanding the British school system, but my understanding is that actually, it is taught in some "faith schools" that receive government funding. Is that correct?

I may be misunderstanding their school system. My understanding is that it works basically on a voucher system.

Answer 8

public schools in england are not state run. confusing terminology i know... even so many of them are at least nominally anglican and they seem too sensible to teach it as science, although it may come up in a religious studies course.

Answer 9

No, I don't...same with American schools. Even though it doesn't say anything about God, but a designer, the science world will not reject their evolution...

But, of course, not a lot of peopel supported evolution at first...so maybe since this doesn't talk about God, eventually it will be more accepted.

Answer 10

I doubt it will even make it into American schools, since the creationists got smacked down in the Dover trial.