Some British schools reportedly teaching intelligent design theory

LONDON: Correction: Several British schools are teaching intelligent design in science classes using creationist instruction packs devised by a group called Trust in Science, newspaper the Guardian has revealed in a report.

The group has sent the instruction packs, containing two DVDs and a manual, which it claims gives details about a creationist alternative to Darwinian Theory of evolution, to practically every secondary school in the country in September. According to feedback received from some 89 schools, the group claims 59 were positive about the method, 15 did not find it suitable, and 15 have negative opinion about it.

The government does not appreciate the efforts of the group. Jim Knight, a minister in the education and skills department, said neither intelligent design nor creationism is recognized scientific theories and they are not included in the science curriculum.

Several leading scientists say theories about intelligent design should not be allowed in school because they are simply not scientific. Sometime back, the Royal Society had warned against allowing creationism in schools insisting that it is necessary students understand that science supports Darwin's theory of evolution.

Lewis Wolpert, a development biologist at the University of London, said intelligent design has nothing to do with science. It is pure religion and it should be banned from schools.

A spokesperson for Truth in Science said the group does not intend to attack the teaching of Darwinian Theory. Instead, it is just saying criticisms of Darwin's theory should also be taught. The group contends that evolution cannot explain certain things in this universe and hence universe must have had an intelligent creator.

Chairman of the parliamentary science and technology select committee Phil Willis said he was horrified that the packs were being used in schools. "I am flabbergasted that any head of science would give credence to this creationist theory and be prepared to put it alongside Darwinism. Treating it as an alternative centralist theory alongside Darwinism in science lessons is deeply worrying."

Several education officials said the method is not recognized as science. One of them said the national curriculum for science clearly sets down that pupils should be taught that the fossil record is evidence for evolution, and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction.

However, some teachers like Nick Cowan of Blue Coat School of Liverpool feel the instruction packs are useful in debating Darwinist evolution. Cowan, a former head of the school's chemistry department, says the packs are very scholarly and should help children in understanding the importance of scientific debate. He claims the material provided by the group does not mention creationism or even God.

The DVDs sent by the group reportedly came from the United States. Incidentally, a U.S. judge had ruled in 2005 that intelligent design cannot be taught in science lessons, saying it is a religious view, a mere relabelling of creationism, and not a scientific theory.

Proponents of intelligent design say it is a scientific alternative to evolution -- which explains the way that life got evolved on earth, being guided by an intelligence, a force that many would call God. They say it is a more sophisticated explanation than creationism, which is the biblical way of seeing things.

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