Is Your School Affected by Creationism?
"I've been dealing with creationists for over 20 years. In that entire time, I have never known them to be either accurate or honest. But a correction should be made -- they are not lying for Jesus. They are lying for *the opportunity to rule in the name of Jesus." Lenny Flank – Debunk Creation
The creationists are completely ruthless in their ambitions to get creationism taught in state schools - at your expense. They believe that they have the moral right and duty to force creationism into the classroom even though they are a tiny minority of the population and their science is utterly bogus.
They will use every trick in the book as well, from the takeover of schools (see Emmanuel Schools Foundation) to bringing in complete teams of creationists for days on end (see John Mackay), without parents of Local Education Authorities knowing. They have well-publicised plans and schemes to infiltrate creationists into schools surreptitiously (see Infiltration). They are using extra-curricular activities as a front for introducing creationism (see Christian Institute and Infiltration). They have established specialised organisations targeting schools with “lectures”, “educational material” and “advice”. They have lobbied government to get their own way.
So if you find your child’s school or a local school coming under the influence of creationism, you need to act. Otherwise, the children are going to end up failing their exams and failing to get jobs.
If the church is a CofE or Roman Catholic school, write to the diocese educational office (easy to find on Internet) and point out exactly what the official positions of these churches are. Demand an answer to why the schools are not adhering to these positions.
Go to the local education authority. If they claim they do not know what is going on, demand to know why, as they are accountable to the public on this.
Find out who the school governors are, and and write to them. These may be listed on the web site of the school or you may have to approach the local education authority or the school itself for details.
Use you local councillors - all of them - at county, city, borough or whatever levels. Local councillors may not have responsibility for local schools but they sure as hell want your votes and are likely to be well connected to local school governors and county councillors. Tell them what is going on, and explain to them all about the dangers of creationism in schools.
Virtually all local authorities have web sites that will provide contact details.
Find out which local clergymen are opposed to creationism (many feel extremely strongly about it). They often have seriously good connections amongst governors. Get them onside.
If you can, join the Parent Teacher Association or form one of your own, and use it to show the dangers, gain contacts and supporters. Try becoming a school governor yourself. Such positions are difficult to fill so you may not find it difficult at all.
Use the press. You'll find a lot of journalists will be very interested in your cause. They will deliver to you free mass publicity for your cause. Get to know them, help them with enquiries, treat them nicely. Above all, get them onside. Don't antagonise them.
Don't let the creationists fob you off with the claim that they only want creationism taught as part of religion. Creationists lie: of necessity, systematically and repeatedly. Once they are in, they are in a position to sneak creationism into science (see Infiltration). And they are not going to tell you that they are doing so. They sneak in "creationist scientists" and such as John Mackay to teach children that science is wrong.
Truth in Science has stated that it plans to distribute creationist "science" material to schools.
The only reason why creationists want to be in schools is to proselytise their religious beliefs, and that includes rubbishing science.
Above all, prepare yourself with the facts. Most members of the public are unaware of the dangers of creationism, and confuse a broadly favourable opinion towards the teaching of religion in schools with teaching creationism as science. Creationism is the crackpot science of a tiny but determined group of religious fundamentalists. It is not part of mainstream religion and is entirely rejected by mainstream science.
And, finally, if you think that it isn't a problem with schools in your area, remember that all schools are being targeted by the creationists. Keep your ears to the ground as to what is going on locally. They will sneak in under the radar unless you are very careful. Creationists such as John Mackay appear to have got into schools without any parent knowing, and without the local education authority being aware.
The Difficult Problem - Academy Schools
Attempts by fundamentalists to infiltrate state schools can be readily counteracted. However, a much harder problem is the formation of academy schools. These replace existing state schools and, where controlled by fundamentalists, are a much bigger problem to counteract. Past experience has shown that concerted action can stop them being established. However, the scale of action needs to be much greater, involving local councillors and MPs.
The National Union of Teachers has an excellent website at http://www.teachers.org.uk/topichome.php?id=224 where you can find lots of information about Academies and Trust schools, as well as tips on how to organise opposition.
The NUT isn't the only teaching union opposed to the government's plans. The NASUWT aren't that keen on them either. Details can be found at http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=70864&Arc=0
Here are UNISON's less than flattering thoughts on the subject. (This is in pdf format at http://www.notoacademies.org.uk/unison.pdf).
There has been at least one successful campaign against City Academies. Parents at Conisbrough And Denaby were concerned when they heard that Sir Peter Vardy had been invited to take over their local school. They investigated further and didn't like what they found. See how they managed to keep control of their local school at http://www.cadpag.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/.
Write to your MP!
An MP's mailbag is their connection with the outside world. The number of letters they receive on an issue dictates its priority and colours their opinion. It always helps to write to your MP.
There is even a template letter for you to use at http://www.notoacademies.org.uk/mp_letter.rtf.
This template is in Rich Text Format and should be readable in a wide range of word processors.
You can find your MP here: http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/. Write to them at:
House of Commons,
Westminster,
London,
SW1A 0AA
Write to your local councillor
If an Academy is being proposed in your area then write to your local councillor immediately. A list of council websites can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/LocalCouncils/fs/en
Once you've found your council website, find the section that lists local councillors and determine the councillor that represents your area.
Many local councils are presenting communities with a "take it or leave it" choice: you can either have an Academy, or no new school. Don't put up with this. Councils are there to do your bidding, not the other way around. If there's tax payer's money available for a new school in your area then demand that local people have a majority say on the governing body.
If the sponsor threatens to walk away then let them, their contribution was paltry and would probably never arrive anyway. Don't let your council off the hook. Once they've let it be known that funds are available, demand that you get a community school built with those funds.
Talk to your neighbours in your street. Use your local church. Spread the word. Get them to put pressure on your councillors too. Start a petition and make sure your elected representatives realise you'll vote them out of office if they do not comply with the wishes of their constituency.
Additional Tips
As is always the case, it helps to know your enemy when you are fighting for a cause. So we have provided some tips:
1. A disproportionate number of the leading activist creationists in the UK are school teachers or are involved in education, or have been at some stage in their career (we don't know why, btw). They know the rules of the education system and how to play it.
2. Some of them have opinions that show their pseudoscientific stances, such as belief in flying saucers or dinosaurs roaming the British countryside in Tudor times.
3. Most of them are incapable of keeping quiet. Therefore you can usually readily find information on them on Internet.
4. Unless you have some science background and also are aware of their own opinions, don't argue with them about science. The activists tend to be well educated and know their stuff, potty as it may be.
5. Argue your position on your terms, not theirs. That puts you in a position of strength, and them in one of weakness. Do it the other way around and you are likely to lose out to their experienced hands.
6. The creationists are well funded and extremely well connected amongst themselves. Don't assume that they are a rabble of weird eccentrics. They are exceedingly well organised.
