In an attempt to check religious extremism in public schools, British Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said schools that teach Biblical Creationism would be refused government funding. In a statement delivered in Parliament, Morgan condemned the preaching of religious views within British public schools.
“There has been no evidence of direct radicalization or violent extremism. But there is a clear account in the report of people in positions of influence in these schools, with a restricted and narrow interpretation of their faith, who have not promoted fundamental British values and who have failed to challenge the extremist views of others,” she said.
A recent report cited by Morgan also criticized the teaching of Creationism in Britain’s public schools and drew a parallel between the Bible’s anti-evolutionary beliefs and radical Islam.
“Staff have said that creationism has been taught as fact in science lessons and in assemblies at Park View School. A member of staff at Park View reported that pupils had said: ‘I’m made of clay...There is no evolution,’” read the report.
In addition, British education officials have insisted that students be taught evolution on a regular basis. For example, the report also elaborated on how evolutionary theories were paid limited attention to in one of the schools.
“Evolution is mentioned only briefly and students are simply directed to the page in the textbook. A teacher who did this went on to tell students that they were looking at the textbook merely to comply with the syllabus but that ‘that was not what they believed,’” stated the report.
Morgan reportedly threatened to strip public schools of government funding if they were found to be promoting extremist views. While one government official suggested Biblical stories will not be done away with from the schools, evolutionists welcomed the government’s pro-evolution policy.
“Win! Job done. Congratulations everyone. This is our first big campaigning win,” wrote one evolutionist blogger.
However, some expressed shock at British officials comparing belief in Creationism with radical Islam.
“I would rather Christian creation be taught in schools any day than Islamic creation as the latter use it to teach extremism,” noted one commenter while another said, “This hardly equates with the hatred-filled bigotry of Islam. Like it or not, British values are based on Biblical teachings.”
Earlier this year, Britain banned the teaching of Creationism as scientifically valid in all public schools and academies. While government officials agreed that Creation versus Evolution debates could be allowed in these institutions, teachers would have to present evolution as scientifically valid and creation as unsubstantiated belief.
Photo Credit: Huffington Post
