New primary school curriculum makes evolution a mandatory science topic
A new curriculum for primary schools in maintained (publicly-funded) schools in England makes the teaching of evolution a mandatory topic in science lessons. On the other hand, the law still requires Religious Education to be taught, something that is routinely used as a tool for proselytising.
Although maintained "faith schools" will not be exempt, officials worryingly accept that the theory of evolution could be taught "in a context that reflected a school’s ethos". This already applies to compulsory sex education for children aged under 15. A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families explained: "You could do that within the ethos of the school. If as a school, in consultation with governors and parents, you have a particular take on that, you would still be able to do that".
Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society, said: "allowing the teaching of evolution in science lessons, or for that matter sex education, ’in a context that reflected a school’s ethos’ is tantamount to an exemption. Muslim, fundamentalist Christian and other religious schools within the state system are being given carte blanche to tell pupils that Darwinism is rubbish and the koranic/biblical etc. explanation is the real one. This demonstrates yet again the Government’s infinite capacity for kow-towing to religion, even when doing so amounts to facilitating intellectual child abuse. We challenge the Government to reverse this educationally corrosive opt out."
Mr Wood added: "A further example is that it is still legal in Voluntary Aided ’faith schools’ for so-called Religious Education never to mention the existence of other denominations, far less other religions or that some people don’t believe any religion. The Government simply does not have the courage to redress this.
"The claim made by the DCSF that teaching about other religions can create tolerance has not been shown to be the case so far. It is much more likely to set parents against each other and cause confusion among children who will be left trying to make sense of conflicting mythologies. A much better approach — which no politician seems to have the guts to suggest — would be to integrate religious studies into other lessons like history and geography, where the topic can be looked at objectively and not hijacked by people using schools as recruiting grounds for their churches and mosques."
You can read how RE is envisaged in the new curriculum here (pdf) although it is difficult, through the inflated language and contentious claims, to make sense of any of it.
