Royal Society: Show respect 'creationism ''

Royal Society: Schools should show creationism 'respect'

It's not as bad as it seems

By Joe Fay → More by this author

Published Friday 12th September 2008 11:05 GMT

Updated The Royal Society has backed the discussion of creationism in school science classes, kicking off what promises to be a spectacular row amongst the country’s top boffins.

The boffinry talking-shop’s director of education told the British Association’s festival of science in Liverpool that creationism should be examined in school science classes as a legitimate point of view.

Michael Reiss, who is both a professor of biology and a Church of England clergyman, took the position that with ten per cent of UK school children coming from families with creationist leanings, teachers should convey a message of “respect” for those beliefs while continuing to teach evolution.

Ultimately, Reiss said, such children were unlikely to change their minds, but at least could be encouraged to view evolution as one way of understanding the universe.

Even more controversially, perhaps, The Royal Society told the Times that Reiss’ position reflected that of the society, on the basis that “teachers need to be in a position to be able to discuss science theories and explain why evolution is a sound scientific theory and why creationism isn’t”.

Sadly, Reiss’ plea for understanding is more likely to spark an almighty punch-up – if not in classrooms then certainly in the scientific and educational community.

For a start, creationism is firmly off the national curriculum. More importantly, his fellow scientists rushed to rubbish the prospect of creationism being debated over the nation’s Bunsen burners and metre rules.   More 

'Professor' Kalam teaches at IIM-A: 'Globalising a Resurgent India..'

Friday,12 September 2008 16:33 hrs IST

'Professor' Kalam to start classes  - Ahmedabad: Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is all set to start his classes at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) Saturday. Reducing the urban-rural divide, energy security and water conservation are some of the key themes he will be addressing. A batch of 70 students have been admitted to the course 'Globalising a Resurgent India through Innovative Transformation' (GRIT), which will be taught by Kalam. The special course, which is in tune with Kalam's vision for India-2020, is for second year students of the postgraduate programme for executives, the postgraduate programme in agri-business management and for foreign students.

FC students in Kerala to get quota benefit

Wednesday,3 September 2008 17:6 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant move, the CPI-M led LDF government in Kerala Wednesday announced to extend reservation in higher education to economically backward students among the forward castes. Read more

ABC News: Chicago Students Boycott First Day of School

ABC News: Chicago Students Boycott First Day of School: "Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Church in Chicago, who helped organize the boycott, echoed that sentiment.

'We're bringing these children to Winnetka today because we have exhausted other methods,' Acree said. 'We want the governor and the senate and legislators all across the state to hear our plea. We want them to see the innocent children from Chicago who are victims of apartheid-style education. We want them to see the inequalities and disparities in our system.'"

Kerala to punish 4,000 schools for 'term' exam

Tue, Sep 2 06:53 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 2 (IANS) Action would be taken against nearly 4,000 schools in Kerala for violating the guidelines for conducting Onam examinations, the state Education Department said Tuesday.

'The new rules are very clear. There can be no examination during Onam (first term) and Christmas (second term). The new guidelines that came into effect from this academic year state that the schools can conduct only half-yearly and final examinations,' Mohammed Hanish, director of public instruction, told IANS.

He said 14 district education officers would submit a report on the list of schools which conducted examinations and violated the government directive. ...>full story