Against creationism in Scottish schools? Sign, support, share

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/gettinginvolved/petitions/creationismguidance

Creationists including Young Earth creationists have access and influence in Scottish publicly funded schools, as chaplains, chaplaincy team members, volunteer visitors, religious appointees to Local Authority Education Committees, and even as suppliers of course materials Requests to the Scottish Government for official guidance, making clear that creationism should not be taught as valid, have been refused on the grounds that teachers are qualified to use their own judgement, even when the requests were coming from the teachers themselves.

The Scottish Secular Society has accordingly petitioned Parliament:

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to issue official guidance to bar the presentation in Scottish publicly funded schools of separate creation and of Young Earth doctrines as viable alternatives to the established science of evolution, common descent, and deep time.

 

Numerous instances demonstrating the need for such guidance have been documented in the press and elsewhere; see e.g. petition footnotes, my own website here, here,  here, here, and here, and links therein; for a report by the Young Earth Creationist Answers in Genesis, see here. 

 

If you share these concerns, please consider signing the petition, suggesting to any professional or learned organisations you belong to that they write a statement of support, and share through Facebook, Twitter, etc. and your own personal contacts.

 

When signing I suggest choosing Scotland as country if possible, and including professional titles such as Dr, Prof or, especially, Rev, together with degrees and similar qualifications.

 

The Scottish Secular Society is neutral in matters of religion as such, while opposed to institutionalised religious privilege (of which creationist teaching in publicly funded schools is an example). The Scottish Parliament petitions process, unlike that elsewhere, plays a real role in the political process through parliamentary discussion, the collection of evidence, and ensuing active public debate.