Should Intelligent Design be part of science teaching?

Dec 5 2006

An alternative to Darwin's evolution theory has caused controversy. Sam Lister reports

by Sam Lister, Liverpool Daily Post

A PRESTIGIOUS city school was criticised last week after one of its science teachers admitted he was going to show pupils DVDs that claim a "higher being" created the Earth.   Nick Cowan ordered the Intelligent Design teaching packs for the Blue Coat School, in Wavertree, to put forward the concept as an alternative to Darwin's theory of evolution.   It claims that some things cannot be explained, so the universe must have had an intelligent creator.   But government officials alongside the city's education executive, Cllr Paul Clein, have condemned the programmes as "not appropriate to support the science curriculum".   Critics claim it is little more than a religious doctrine dressed up as a scientific theory.   The school has refused to comment publicly on the furore, but while staff are now privately saying the DVDs will be mainly used in religious lessons, they also admitted that Intelligent Design was still a topic for discussion in biology classes.   The packs are sold by Truth in Science, an organisation that insists that changes in nature are the result of a "guiding hand".   The theory has the backing of a number of academics who claim that it is supported by scientific principles.   But, as it cannot be tested or proved, critics argue it has no place in the science class and is a thinly-veiled attempt to sneak a creationist agenda into schools.   So, should Intelligent Design be taught in school science lessons?   samlister@dailypost.co.uk NO: The case against >>>

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