Creationism in the Classroom - Research Project

[DaisyRach]

Hello!

I am currently undertaking research on teaching creationism in the primary classroom.

The questions I am focussing on are:
Does creationism hold any educational value to children in primary schools?
Does creationism have a place in the curriculum, and if so, where?


I would be very grateful for any responses :help:

Thanks!

 

[ThereIsNoSpoon]

Hi,

if we talk about "science" classes and scientific education, then creationism has no value and should not be included in any curriculum as a "legitimate theory".

If you want it to have value for kids then this might only be by including it in the classroom as "illegitimate claim".

In short: Tell the kids it's not scientific. Thats the only thing they can learn here.

 

[DaisyRach]

Thanks, I know what you mean!

 

[Mr Cheese]

Religious class, or treat it as a story. At a priomary level there is only so much.
If you were teaching older kids, I'd stick to religious class, but I'd probably examine themes common in all creation myths, as there are many.

Then you could if you wanted, compare it with basic scientific models. But you are only teaching primary. I see nothing wrong with story telling, it is a good thing at that age. One should be careful to not offend parents though, as ultimaty it will be them that get upset, not the kids

 

[darkendless]

Hello!

I am currently undertaking research on teaching creationism in the primary classroom.

The questions I am focussing on are:
Does creationism hold any educational value to children in primary schools?
Does creationism have a place in the curriculum, and if so, where?


I would be very grateful for any responses :help:

Thanks!

Absolutely not. As a child i was taught from the bible at age 11-13 and taught religion as factual. Noahs ark, judas, Moses, the whole lot. Further on in my teaching especially when it came to introducing physics and chemistry, a lot of what i was taught in religion conflicted with my new learning, make it hard to understand real concepts and not fairytales.

Creationism requires no real intillect and is highly subjective. Primary school children absorb a lot of information so as educators, it would make sense to teach them objective rather than subjective facts from the start. Once critical analysis skills develop then it is appropriate to discuss rather than teach religious concepts.

 

[MSizer]

Creationism is purely dogmatic, 100% void of scietific support, and the frustrating thing is that those who support it are either ignorant or even unfortunately sometimes dishonest with an agenda. Those who push creationism and ID unfortunately tend to be so scietifically illiterate that they aren't able to recognize how their "theory" is not a theory at all, but a belief.

The claims made by Creationists and IDers are completely unsubstantiated, and in no other area of study would this be tolerated.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I would not include it in any classroom, including Religious studies.
it is a total nonsense, and is of no value whatsoever.
It might have some value in a class about fables and their persistence.
for older age groups.

 

[Dunemeister]

I think it would be fine in a history of religions course, where context could be provided. Creationism as we are now confronted with it (YEC) is a modern invention.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

It has no business in the classroom at all, unless it were compared against the scientific method to show why we use a scientific method to enhance natural understanding rather than religious texts.

 

[MSizer]

Just as an FYI, "a flock of dodos" is a good low budget intro movie to the increasing ID struggle in the US. It's by a filmmaker who had been an evolutionary biologist previously who got concerned about the growing ID movement, so he started poking into it and made a documentary in the process.

 

[OmarKhayyam]

Do we teach astrology in elementary science?

No. And why not? It is not a science.

Same principal.

 

[Dunemeister]

Do we teach astrology in elementary science?

No. And why not? It is not a science.

Same principal.

No, but we could teach it as a phenomenon within modern evangelical Christianity in a social studies course. As a sociological fact, creationism is interesting. As a serious scientific account of origins, perhaps not.

 

[ragordon168]

I would not include it in any classroom, including Religious studies.
it is a total nonsense, and is of no value whatsoever.
It might have some value in a class about fables and their persistence.
for older age groups.

so if we dont teach religious theories in RE classes then where do we teach them about the mythology?

your right that it doesn't belong in science class but RE is specifically for religious study. as long as the cristian creation story is not given priority over other beliefs then it should be fine as long as it is taught as myth not fact.

 

[themadhair]

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

The theory of evolution is being attacked by religious fundamentalists who call for creationist theories to be taught in European schools alongside or even in place of it. From a scientific view point there is absolutely no doubt that evolution is a central theory for our understanding of the Universe and of life on Earth.

Creationism in any of its forms, such as “intelligent design”, is not based on facts, does not use any scientific reasoning and its contents are pathetically inadequate for science classes.
….
5. We are witnessing a growth of modes of thought which, the better to impose religious dogma, are attacking the very core of the knowledge that we have patiently built up on nature, evolution, our origins and our place in the universe.

 

[Atreyu]

That is what church is for.

 

[OmarKhayyam]

No, but we could teach it as a phenomenon within modern evangelical Christianity in a social studies course. As a sociological fact, creationism is interesting. As a serious scientific account of origins, perhaps not.

That is teaching ABOUT creationism. Not the dogma itself. Big difference. If you want to use it as an example of the lengths people will go to justify their mythology as fact - fine. Might even be useful as such. But to teach as fact that some divine being(s) twitched its nose and poofed life into existence about 6K yrs ago - no way Jose. Pure myth. Scientific value - zilch.

 

[ragordon168]

That is what church is for.

but religious ideas and beliefs should be taught otherwise ignorance and fear arise.

the islamic fear across the western world has arisen as people think every muslim is a terrorist bent on killing every non-muslim. this is BS but the general public don't know this as they have never learned about the true message of islam. (i know i didn't i just don't treat a people based on what individuals have done)

the ignorance of something is the biggest danger. think about sex in american high schools - parents don't want sex-ed taught so kids don't know about protection and when they have sex get pregnant because of their ignorance.

 

[Atreyu]

but religious ideas and beliefs should be taught otherwise ignorance and fear arise.

the islamic fear across the western world has arisen as people think every muslim is a terrorist bent on killing every non-muslim. this is BS but the general public don't know this as they have never learned about the true message of islam. (i know i didn't i just don't treat a people based on what individuals have done)

the ignorance of something is the biggest danger. think about sex in american high schools - parents don't want sex-ed taught so kids don't know about protection and when they have sex get pregnant because of their ignorance.

Good point however,I think that teaching children about diversity is more in order rather than religions. I am sure many people think Native Americans are drunks, Mexicans are theives, White people are trash and so on. So I think that a persons belief that Muslims are killers is no different than any other form of rasism or profiling.

 

[ragordon168]

Good point however,I think that teaching children about diversity is more in order rather than religions. I am sure many people think Native Americans are drunks, Mexicans are theives, White people are trash and so on. So I think that a persons belief that Muslims are killers is no different than any other form of rasism or profiling.

agreed instead of RE it could be DE (diversity education) in which religion was just a chapter covered over a term. the class would be taught about the differences between cultures and religions. in our shrinking world and rapidly diversifying cultures this destruction of ignorance and hate is vital.

unfortunately some people out there will get scared that their children will be 'contaminated' by this kind of education and try having it banned.

 

[DaisyRach]

I just want to say a great big thank you to everyone who has commented so far!
Its really interesting to read and is going to be so useful for my research.

I really want to get involved with the debate - but sadly I'm *really* trying to be objective!