Three in ten Brit teachers want creationism to be taught in school

London, Dec 23 (ANI): A new survey has revealed three in ten Brit teachers believe creationism should be taught in science lessons.

The poll, conducted by Ipsos Mori, included more than 900 primary and secondary teachers in England and Wales.

It found that 37 percent of primary and secondary teachers in general believe that the subject should be taught alongside evolution and the Big Bang theory.

While 47 per cent believe it should not be taught in science lessons, 65 per cent agree that creationism should be discussed in schools.

This rises to 73 per cent of teachers with science as their subject specialism.

"Our findings suggest that many teachers are trying to adopt a measured approach to this contentious issue, an approach which attempts not only to explain the essential differences between scientific and other types of 'theory', but also to acknowledge that - regardless of, or even despite, "the science" - pupils may have a variety of strongly held, and arguably equal value, faith-based beliefs," the Independent quoted Fiona Johnson, head of education research at Ipsos Mori and director of the Ipsos Mori Teachers Omnibus, as saying.

The survey also revealed that 65 per cent science specialists do not think that creationism should be taught in science lessons.

And few teachers think creationism as an idea should be dismissed outright.

Just 26 per cent agree with a view expressed by Professor Chris Higgins, vice-chancellor of Durham University that "creationism is completely unsupportable as a theory, and the only reason to mention creationism in schools is to enable teachers to demonstrate why the idea is scientific nonsense and has no basis in evidence or rational thought." (ANI)