UK: Creationism 'banned from free schools'

[marmar]

For anyone wondering, this is what is meant by 'free' school in UK parlance:

Free Schools are all-ability state-funded schools set up in response to what local people say they want and need in order to improve education for children in their community.

The right school can transform a child’s life and help them achieve things they may never have imagined. .......more http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools

Critics have warned that evangelical groups will be able to teach such ideas without interference, as free schools will not have to follow the national curriculum.

But now the Department for Children, Education and Schools has issued guidance explicitly stating that teaching such theories as science will not be allowed.

The "minimum requirements" guidance, published earlier this week, reads: "Creationism, intelligent design and similar ideas must not be taught as valid scientific theories."

The guidance is to help those assessing applications for free schools. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8526161/Creationism-banned-from-free-schools.html

[Mr. Jefferson]

1. 'banned from free schools'

banned and free, cannot be.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. 'Free' here is Tory-speak for 'free from local government control'

The Tories want to give money to people who want to set up schools because they don't like the way their local councils run the existing ones. It is a big worry that any old loon will get all the money they need to run schools in which they can teach a load of reactionary or theocratic tosh at taxpayers' expense. This is, at least, one area in which there will be a standard imposed - ie don't teach religious claims as if they are part of science.

[Recursion]

2. The terminology can be confusing to us Yanks

When people talk about politicians all being "public school chaps" they mean the opposite of what we do here...

[xchrom]

3. recommend