Hampshire schools could be teaching creationism alongside evolution in science lessons

Did God make the world and human beings in six days as stated in The Bible or did we evolve over billions of years by natural selection, as put forward by Charles Darwin?

Scientists and so-called creationists have been at loggerheads ever since, each insisting that the other is wrong and battling over which should be taught to children.

Now, pupils at Hampshire secondary schools could be among the first in the country to be taught creationism alongside evolution.

A multi-faith advisory panel has backed a proposal for a new joint approach to be taught by science and religious education teachers.

However, it will be up to individual schools to decide if they want to follow the pioneering lesson plan.

County councillor Anna McNair Scott, chairman of the Standing Advisory Council For Religious Education (SACRE), which includes Southampton schools, said “We should not imply at any time that we are teaching creationism as a science.”

But education chiefs say that does not mean it should not be discussed together with Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species and theory of evolution.

The aim is for pupils to explore the science and theology together, then come to their own conclusions.

The new unit of work was set up after Clive Erricker, county inspector for RE, was asked to examine the suitability of a dual approach.

He said: “The tensions between religion and science should not be denied but nor should we paint a black and white picture.”

Mr Erricker said the evolution-creationism debate is “complex” but can be simplified and has written a teachers’ guide with subjects for pupils to study.

Topics include Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and “intelligent design” – the idea that the world is so complex it must be God’s work.

Others include the Catholic Church’s view that mankind may have evolved but God created the soul.

When asked how it would work in practice, Mr Erricker said: “There are no models. We will create a new model of learning.

Mixed response by religious groups

THE guide has received a mixed from religious groups.

Panel member Mohammed Ansar, representing Sunni Islam, criticised the guide for looking through “tinted spectacles of Christianity versus evolution.”

He said: “I would like to see another section towards the end that looked at the wider aspect and other great faiths.”

Mr Erricker said this would make the guide too complex but promised to add a reading list with references to Islam.

Meanwhile Jean O’Reilly, representing humanists, voiced concerns about whether creationism should belong on the science curriculum.”

Southampton rector Revd Julian Davies said he welcomed the proposal in the city’s schools and that the Bible does not rule out all parts of evolution.

Julie Turvey, head of Westgate School in Winchester, said: “In theory it could be good but in practice it would be difficult to organise. She said evolution and creationism were already explored in school albeit in science and RE lessons.