The UK government has confirmed that 'intelligent design', sometimes called
neo-creationism, will not be taught in schools as part of the National
Curriculum.
The statement came in response to a petition calling for the doctrine not to
form part of British education.
A similar case in the US occurred in 2005 when a Pennsylvania court found
that intelligent design was not a scientific theory and "cannot uncouple itself
from its creationist, and thus religious, antecedents".
"The UK government is aware that a number of concerns have been raised in the
media and elsewhere as to whether creationism and intelligent design have a
place in science lessons," said the government in its response to the petition.
"The government is clear that creationism and intelligent design are not part
of the science National Curriculum programmes of study and should not be taught
as science."
It continues that intelligent design can be referred to in classes, but that
it must be made clear that it is not science and that pupils will not be tested
on the subject.
The report will come as a relief to many who worry that Britain is
increasingly being targeted by those who seek to introduce intelligent design
into school science classes.
Despite the US court ruling, intelligent design is still taught in many
American schools and President Bush has expressed his wish that this should
continue.
"We are very pleased about the decision," said Terry Sanderson, president of
the
National
Secular Society.
"It is very important that the government has made such a plain statement of
intent that intelligent design will not be taught in science classes. It is not
science and has no business posing as such and creating confusion for children
in schools."
The
concept
of intelligent design states that the variety and complexity of life on
Earth could not be down to evolution, but must instead have been created by an
intelligent entity.
The concept first surfaced in the mid-1980s as attempts were made to overturn
the teaching of evolution in schools.
One of the main advocates for the theory is the
Discovery
Institute in the US, which receives some funding from the
Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In 1999 a memo from the organisation was leaked, the so-called 'Wedge
document', which outlined the Institute's 20-year plan for attacking evolution.
Its stated objective was to "defeat scientific materialism and its
destructive moral, cultural and political legacies and to replace materialistic
explanations with the theistic understanding that nature and human beings are
created by God".
The Discovery Institute has never denied creating the document, but claims
that its importance has been overblown by conspiracy theorists.
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