Responce from the BBC

crystal · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 308

I thought you might be interested in the response I got from the BBC

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

At least they took the time to reply.

It's unfortunate that they (BBC) didn't take there example from existing christian funded academies.

The fact that they chose outlandish extremist views (that probably don't exist, except for a very few) tells of the BBC possibly having "another" agenda wrapped into this story.

Perhaps that agenda includes making christians a laughing stock? And so, by default, making christianity a laughing stock too Icon_sad

They've already done it (to a point) with programmes like Songs of Praise.

But I don't think it's just the BBC that have a problem with christians/christianity, after all Channel 4 had a vieled muslim woman giving their christmas message Icon_icon7

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bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

I rather think that the BBC may well have taken their example from existing Christian funded academies. Richard Carey makes a valid point about interest groups investing in public education. Is it appropriate that one subjective belief is presented as objective fact simply because the source of so much funding wishes it so? Isn't that indoctrination rather than education?

crystal · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 308

Bobby I assume from your comments that you saw the programme then?

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

No crystal I didn't see the episode of Waterloo Road but I was responding to the letter you got back from the BBC. Are you implying that it contains errors and inaccuracies about the programme?

Elaine, is evolution taught as fact? No it's presented as a theory. If creationism was likewise presented as a theory alongside evolution there coud be no complaints. However, in Christian academies only the creationist idea is offered. That is indoctrination. The fictional school in Waterloo Road (is that just the name of the programme or of the school too?) is not, as far as I know, one of the Faith Academies that are springing up and that were the focus of the documantary programme that I saw. Most likely it was the one to which you refer Elaine. Consequently you cannot compare Waterloo Road with The King's School(?) because you are not comparing like with like. The BBC's storyline in Waterloo Road was not about the effectiveness of Faith Academies compared to state schools but was about (according to the quoted letter) the consequences when a pressure group gains significant amounts of control and influence within a school.

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

I can't remember the name of the school Bobby, but evolution has to be taught in any school other than strictly private ones.

And in most schools, not only is it taught with the ommission of the word "theory", long out-of-date material is used.(Unlike the bible, apparently evolution keeps changing.)

Example; When my daughter was being taught evolution in school, she had to point out that it was a theory. The rest of the class laughed at her. Until that point no-one had told them it is only theory. Her teacher then agreed with her.
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God put me on this earth to do a number of things.
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bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

jtheb · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 1448 Location: second childhood

There have been changes. I was taught that the thymus was a vestigial organ. That the Pineal gland had no use but was the remains of a third eye.

And a few other things.
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Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

Don't start again Bobby.

I don't have to prove anything to you, I am being curtious in answering you.

As you know I used to co-run a youth group of over 30 teens. All of these said that they were taught evolution as fact.

I have a very large extended family, the school age children are taught evolution from a very young age, and are not told it is a theory.

I know a science teacher (christian) who taught evolution as fact because that is what she believed.

Another lady I know is very qualified scientifically (but I can't remember exactly what qualifications). She too is a christian, yet believes in evolution. She used to work in labs, and now works in schools. She told me she was going to teach her own children evolution as fact, because that's what she believes.

Shall I go on?

The school in the documentary did teach evolution. They had to. They just made sure that the kids knew it was theory.

I think you might be suffering from selective memory.
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God put me on this earth to do a number of things.
Right now I'm so far behind I'll live forever!!!!!

Elaine · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 1712 Location: Derbyshire

Crystal, I'm sorry.

Once again your thread has turned into something it shouldn't be.

That is the last post I'll make of that manner.

I will try to keep on topic, or not post.
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God put me on this earth to do a number of things.
Right now I'm so far behind I'll live forever!!!!!

crystal · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 308

I am saying that the letter was carefully worded and did not address the issues I raised.
I also would like to let it be known that my three children were all taught evolution as fact, and I know that my many nephews and neices have also been taught it as fact. We do not all live in the same area, this is being taught in scotland, in at least 8 different counties in England.
Bobby you are getting very aggressive in your posts, they are attacking rather than debating/discussion.
Try and stop being so personal about your posts. To be honest I do not care if you believe in creation or not, that is not meant as an aggressive statement but just a suggestion that yet again you have taken this off topic. All I wanted to talk about was a tv programme that portrayed Christians as fundies.
They had a memorial for a teacher who had killed herself because she had MS. So whilst the atheist was talking about what a lovely woman she was it was the Christian who talked about how sinful she was for killing herself. He was disrespectful about someone he had never met, so they made sure in the programme that the atheist looked good and the "christian" looked like an uncaring pig.
Debate evolution/creation if you want but all I wanted to talk about here is how tv portrays christianity and yet again it has been hijacked.
I do not know why I bother. I post on a couple of non christian forums and do you know what I have never got into an argument in any of them.

Paul · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 50

Bobby clearly doesn't know what he is talking about. There is no City Academy that teaches only creationism. That allegation was made about the Emmanuel School in Gateshead. The allegation was untrue when first made and is still untrue now. Bobby should be aware that substantial libel damages were awarded against someone who kept repeating those untrue allegations on another forum. I will readily personally support the necessary libel action against Bobby if he repeats such lies on this forum again, and I recommend that he accepts publicly in this thread that he is in error, if he wishes to avoid such action.

On another issue on this topic, I know of no creationist group that believes that dinosaurs didn't exist. Indeed, Answers in Genesis - the world's largest creationist organisation - actually uses dinosaurs in its publicity and in its museum.

bobbyc · Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1324

Personally I'm pleased that at least some Christians, as cited by Elaine, are not rubbishing evolution. As for the schools in the documentary I accept the correction that they taught evolution as a theory but it's still a fact that they presented creationism as a truer theory and one that they believed in. It's one of the reasons why the documentary was so newsworthy at the time.

Has the thread really gone offtopic? Crystal suggested that the thread should be about the media using Christianity to make a point. In both Waterloo Road and the aforementioned documentary the media made the point that Creationism is being taught in some schools. If the creationists are doing their job persuasively enough then they would surely attract converts not ridicule.

Edit - I wrote this as Paul was making his post. Don't try to threaten me Paul.

Paul · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 50