UK based ID pressure group

[Jocky]

Thanks Huw, that's the fella. I notice that he's not a biochemist

The name in my last post should have been to "Paxman" of course (as in Jeremy). Typed in haste

I have been in email correspondence for quite some time with TiS. A wearily familiar mantra - I ask them what evidence exists to support ID, they ignore my request and tell me untruths instead.

I have observed that they are relying heavily on assertions along the lines of "a government minister has stated that ID may be taught in school science lessons". They threw that at me in an email, and MacIntosh tried in on Paxman on Newsnight too.

IMO this assertion is disingenuous. Here is the actual excerpt from Hansard:

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Answer by the Lord Filkin on 31 January ... whether the scientific theory of intelligent design [sic] could be taught in United Kingdom schools.

Lord Filkin: In all aspects of the science curriculum, we encourage pupils to consider different ideas and beliefs, and how scientific controversies can arise from different ways of interpreting evidence.
Intelligent design theory is not part of the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum for Science states that students must learn that the fossil record is evidence for evolution and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction. Intelligent design theory could be discussed in schools, but only in the context of being one of a range of views on evolution that students might consider and evaluate against the evidence.

Source

Notice: he only said it could be discussed "in schools", not "in science lessons"; he explicitly said that it has no place in the National Curriculum; he clearly differentiates it from evidence-based science; and he stresses that when it is mentioned, it should then be tested against the evidence (when it will of course be found sorely wanting).

Thou shouldest not take the words of the Lord thy minister in vain: but it seems that TiS will not hesitate to do so. Beware quote mining ... >:(

[Mongrel]

A humourous response from the 'An American' over at The Register after they ran the story yesterday:

We apologize for sending the ID morons overseas. We realize that they're not one of our finer exports; but we had to get rid of them somehow. We're comforted by the fact that they'll be well cared for. Since ID's are mental defectives, your MP's will probably vote to make them a protected species and post cameras and microphones around their habitat. Who knows? Maybe you can revive the textile mills with their labor? They're cheap, stupid and expendable.

P.S. Should you eventually find them as tedious and cretinous as we do (and you will), please be aware that we've revoked their citizenship.

An American

[Mojo]

A chemistry teacher has informed the education secretary that we MUST allow kids to hear all about intelligent design as it will be 'useful' for debating Darwin's theories.

I'd have thought that, as a chemistry teacher, he'd be more interested in alternative theories of chemistry, such as some of the ideas the reDiscovery Institute are proposing.

[Mojo]

Ministers to ban creationist teaching aids in science lessons!

The government is to write to schools telling them that controversial teaching materials promoting creationism should not be used in science lessons.
The packs include DVDs and written materials promoting intelligent design, a creationist alternative to Darwinism, that were sent to every school in the country by the privately-funded group Truth in Science.

[Jocky]

Ministers to ban creationist teaching aids in science lessons!

Hurrah!!!

Reason is not totally dead in Government

[vbloke]

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/021506/booze-time.jpg
(somewhat possibly NSFW due to swearing)

Huzzah! Took them long enough though.

[Admin]

Well that's good news for a change.

In fact, the only sad thing about it is that I am gobsmacked (and I suspect many others are too) at such a sensible decision being made by the government.

It's so commonplace to find stupidity taking precedence over reason that when it happens in reverse, it's like winning the lottery!

Or perhaps they've realised it isn't a vote-winner.

[sonofajoiner]

I'd have thought that, as a chemistry teacher, he'd be more interested in alternative theories of chemistry, such as some of the ideas the reDiscovery Institute are proposing.

Wow. I had no idea just what a tool of evil the periodic table is.

[vbloke]

One thing everyone can do is go here:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...13&SESSION=875
and see if your MP has signed the Early Day Motion.

If not, you can write to them here:
http://www.writetothem.com
and ask them to put their name against it.

[Jocky]

Thanks for the links vbloke - but don't our MPs have an easy out on this one? They can just say that the decision has been made now, and so it's too late and there's no point in signing the EDM?

[vbloke]

you could always ask them why they didn't sign it...

[Hazen]

Another (unexpected) step in the right direction:

2. EVOLUTION OF COBB COUNTY: WARNING STICKERS ARE GONE FOR GOOD.
Five years ago the school board in Cobb County, GA put stickers
on science textbooks warning that "evolution is just a theory,"
http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN02/wn062702.html . The legal
battle opposing the stickers was led by Americans United for
Separation Church and State, with the help of the same team that
defeated the Philistines last year in Dover, PA. In a consent
decree signed on Tuesday, the School Board agreed never to use a
similar sticker or undermine the teaching of evolution in science
class. In a separate agreement the School District agreed to pay
a substantial portion of the plaintiff's legal fees. That more
than anything else will discourage similar actions elsewhere.

http://www.bobpark.org/

[vbloke]

Well, to see what all the fuss was about, using my privileged position as a teacher, I sent off for the TiS DVD pack.

It has now arrived!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vbloke/352582308/

I'll be subjecting myself to watching it and writing up a thorough review about it. Hopefully, it may be of some use to see how TiS (as funded by the Discovery Institute) are distorting the truth to get their agenda across.

I note with dismay that in the DVD manual, a lot of prominence is given to Behe and Dembsky and the flagellum argument.

The things I do for skepticism...

[Jocky]

I salute your noble sacrifice for the good of the cause and I look forward to reading your conclusions.

I would be particularly interested to know what you think of the value of the TiS material in the light of Lord Filkin's much-quoted parliamentary answer on the subject of ID. TiS have often claimed that this government position legitimises them disseminating this stuff to schools. But does their material actually make it possible to "consider and evaluate" the 'theory' of ID "against the evidence"?

I reckon that a systematic analysis of this material would make an excellent adornment to the main site ...

[vbloke]

The first DVD will be going into the player soon...

I have my laptop on standby :D