http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7612152.stm

Creationism should be discussed in school science lessons, rather than excluded, says the director of education at the Royal Society.

Professor Michael Reiss says that if pupils have strongly-held beliefs about creationism these should be explored.

Rather than dismissing creationism as a "misconception", he says it should be seen as a cultural "world view".

Teachers should take the time to explain why creationism had no scientific basis, Prof Reiss said.

He stressed that the topic should not be taught as science.

This was more valuable than simply "banging on" about evolution, he said.

Prof Reiss, a biologist and Church of England minister, said he now believed it was more effective to engage with pupils' ideas about creationism, rather than to obstruct discussion with those who do not accept the scientific version of the evolution of species.

Evolution

Creationists take a literal interpretation of the Bible's description of the origin of life and reject the Darwinian concept of evolution. Some Muslims also support creationist theories.

Prof Reiss, speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at the University of Liverpool, estimates that about one in 10 children is from a family which supports a creationist view rather than evolutionary.

He says that in his experience it is more effective to include discussion about creationism alongside scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution.

"An increasing percentage of children in the UK come from families that do not accept the scientific version of the history of the universe and the evolution of species.

"What are we to do with those children? My experience after having tried to teach biology for 20 years is if one simply gives the impression that such children are wrong, then they are not likely to learn much about the science that one really wants them to learn.

"I think a better way forward is to say to them 'look, I simply want to present you with the scientific understanding of the history of the universe and how animals and plants and other organisms evolved'.

He also added a clarification on his position regarding creationism in schools.

"Some of my comments about the teaching of creationism have been misinterpreted as suggesting that creationism should be taught in science classes. Creationism has no scientific basis.

"However, when young people ask questions about creationism in science classes, teachers need to be able to explain to them why evolution and the Big Bang are scientific theories but they should also take the time to explain how science works and why creationism has no scientific basis.

"I have referred to science teachers discussing creationism as a worldview'; this is not the same as lending it any scientific credibility."

Understanding the universe

Prof Reiss said that he had shifted his own views on how to respond to creationism.

"I realised that simply banging on about evolution and natural selection didn't lead some pupils to change their minds at all.

"Now I would be more content simply for them to understand it as one way of understanding the universe."

This was challenged by Simon Underdown, senior lecturer in the department of anthropology at Oxford Brookes University.

Creationism should be taught within the context of religion rather than science, said Dr Underdown.

"It is not something that fits within the mainstream of science."

With so much to be crammed into science lessons, it was not a worthwhile use of time to include lessons about creationism, he argued.


Peoples thoughts?

Its this thing about science and spiritual clashing again. When are they gonna realise that its one and the same dam thing.

Creation still happened regardless of how, It may not have been a bloke with a beard or whatever but the creation of this solar system happened due to a very big and powerful energy burst, big bang etc, now it only makes sense to follow an evolution path because things don't just pop up from no where they have to evolve, but we are on a cycle through the cosmos, we start from atomic particals and we have joined and fused together and over time evolved and as we do we are always evolving to be better, to feel better, to seek the true meaning of life, to ensure that this system like many others evolves and carry's on its cycle.

My point is, is that science and religion have been trying to prove the other wrong for years and years but what needs to happen is for them to unite together. Creationism isn't completely wrong, and it isn't completely right, same goes for science. The is a point to life and this world, but scientists don't see that like the spiritualists do.

There is alot of brainwashing and misunderstanding but in regards to teaching creationism with science, well... it could be done, but the trouble is that the scientists can't teach what they don't believe to be right. Don't teach that god made the world in seven days, teach about the power of the cosmos, teach about the phenomina that occurs with our world in relation to spiritual culture's etc. Then let the people make there own minds up from an un biased education.

My main bugbear about this is the fact its being suggested that A) it's taught in science class when creationism is more religious studies and Its taught along with Science.

How much do you want to confused already confused kids. The 2 don't work together so keep them apart. If you want to teach one or the other do it but not both together.

I'm not in favour of any Religious Education in schools whatsoever.
The moral upbringing of my offspring is my responsibility, not the states.
At the very least, there should be an 'opt out' choice.

Quite right, the religious aspect i.e. actually talking about religions should be left out of science. But if your teaching about the big bang and how they think the world was created, and evolved etc etc, ya have to at least cross reference to the astrological accuracy of older races such as the Maya and egyptians, as they were very intelligent astrologers and knew things about our solor system before our science discovered them.
Its not about teaching religion, its about teaching science, and science should not just involve computers and test tubes, but much more which is why the theories of spirtual and scientific people need to unite rather than discredit each other. Thats WHY it gets confusing...

Things like this hold back progress. I you enforce creationism in biology classes it could slow the production of Christian biologists. If students are told that biology is wrong because creationism is wrong then they will not advance based on their parents.

Science class is for science i.e. experimenting and working from evidence based on experiments. Its cool to teach creationism in religious studies as stated before but I think it is a bit ignorant to impose a Christian belief as a science in multi cultural schools.

If I had a kid I would not want them learning creationism, a Christian belief and I bet every Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Atheist, Jedi and any other non Christian parents would not want their children having their heads filled with an opinion that is not science and that they don't believe in.

According to these statistics, 1 in 10 parents are wrong in my personal opinion.