Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Saturday, 22nd November 2008

Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the n/a site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

DUP CALL FOR SCHOOLS TO TEACH CREATION PASSED BY COUNCIL



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 26 September 2007
LISBURN City Council has ratified the controversial DUP recommendation by its Corporate Services Committee that it write to post primary schools in the area asking what plans they have to develop teaching material in relation to 'creation, intelligent design and other theories of origin'.
The majority decision to send the letters came at the end of an impassioned debate on the subject at Tuesday evening's monthly meeting which began when SDLP Councillor and former school principal Peter O'Hagan said he did not feel the council should
'be taking upon itself' to 'interfere or get involved in the curriculum'.
His comments were supported by his party colleagues Councillors Matthew McDermott and Brian Heading. Mr. Heading also warned such a move could herald the start of a 'witch hunt' against educators teaching evolution - something he claimed was already happening in the USA.
Paul Givan
Paul Givan
Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Butler told the meeting he felt councillors should 'stay out' of trying to tell schools what they should or should not include in their curriculum.
Corporate Services Committee Chairman Ulster Unionist Councillor Bill Gardiner Watson, also a former teacher, felt the same although he said the council was 'entitled to express an opinion'.
However, the DUP's Paul Givan who made the original proposal said he was not suggesting the council dictate what schools should or should not teach but simply pointing out that under the revised curriculum there was an opportunity for alternative theories to be taught.
He said Sinn Fein Education Minister Katriona Ruane had made the same point in the Assembly.
His comments were supported by his party colleague Alderman Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland's Minister for Arts and Culture, who made it plain he was a strong believer in biblical creation.
Deputy Mayor Ulster Unionist Ronnie Crawford appealed for cross party support for Mr. Givan's proposal pointing out Pope Benedict was a firm believer in creationism and adding there were many points on which he agreed with the Pontiff.
It was also suggested by several DUP councillors during the discussion that preventing the teaching of theories other than evolution was in itself a form of 'fascism'.



The full article contains 362 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 September 2007 4:14 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Lisburn, County Antrim
 
Prev
1
Next
1

Millipj,

UK 27/09/2007 14:08:43
What is Dep Mayor Ronnie Crawford on about? Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church rejects creationism and endorses evolution (albeit guided by God). Biblical (6000 year) creationism is proved to be utterly wrong by scientific disciplines that have nothing to do with biology or evolution: physics, geology, geography, astronomy. It is odd that Mr Givan seems prepared to have his religious views exposed as ridiculous in a scientific forum. Would the DUP councillors also have alchemy taught alongside chemistry, astrology alongside cosmology? (Actually they might given their obvious scientific ignorance).
2

,

29/09/2007 15:19:39
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
3

Franchesca,

Belfast 30/09/2007 00:18:23
We can measure the distance to the stars in the centre of our galaxy as 50,000 lightyears (the galaxy is almost 100,000 lightyears across), using simple methods of triangulation, with the earth's orbit as the base. A lightyear is the distance light can travel in a year, so the arc of the milky way that you see in the sky took anywhere between 20,000 and 90,000 years travel from it's source to your eye. In light of this (if you can excuse the pun), how can anyone in their right mind take the claim that the universe is 6,000 years old seriously, let alone propose teaching it as science?
4

BryanH,

Cardiff 01/10/2007 11:35:17
If they are going to teach alternative theories to evolution I presume they will teach the Egyptian, Norse, Native American and African creation myths as well? There are no alternative theories to evolution, there are ancient myths being thrown around today as political propaganda. Ken, try learning something evolution doesn't operate by chance.
5

BryanH,

Cardiff 01/10/2007 11:35:45
If they are going to teach alternative theories to evolution I presume they will teach the Egyptian, Norse, Native American and African creation myths as well? There are no alternative theories to evolution, there are ancient myths being thrown around today as political propaganda. Ken, try learning something evolution doesn't operate by chance.
6

BryanH,

Cardiff 01/10/2007 11:41:02
"Neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognised scientific theories and they are not included in the science curriculum" From a written answer in Hansard from Jim Knight, Minister of State, Schools and 14-19 Learners, in response to Graham Stringer MP, 1st November 2006 (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061101/text/61101w0010.htm#0611021001582)
7

Oliver Benen,

Lisburn 02/10/2007 14:37:53
I think it is important to stress that opposition to the teaching of ID isn't necessarily anti-religious. The important issue here is the separation of church and state. Mr Givan claims that he was simply seeking "equality of treatment" in schools for creationism and ID. If we were to follow Mr Givan's wishes and have "equality of treatment" then we would have to allow every other religion or cult to have their particular creation myth taught in the science class room as well, regardless of how obscure or unusual we may find them. The place for Intelligent Design, if anywhere, is in a comparative religion class. Every other topic in our science text books has gone through decades of peer reviewed analysis and scientific scrutiny before it gets anywhere near to being taught in our schools. I'm afraid Intelligent Design just hasn't earned its place. Also, for the Lord Mayor to welcome a member of the Answers In Genesis organisation to the city and encourage him in his "great work" ignores the fact that there are people of other faiths and of no faith who live in this city who might take offence at his unequivocal stance on this issue.
8

Dr See See,

Lisburn 09/10/2007 23:30:47
Ken Patterson writes "Many scientists do not accept the evolutionary theory and what is taken for fact today is often replaceed by another different theory tomorrow." Actually very few scientists do not accept the theory of evolution. However you are correct in stating that "we are not the children of chance". Evolution doesn't work by chance, its selection wot does it and thats a very unrandom process.
Prev
1
Next

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.