England Set to Allow Atheists to Setup Schools

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This just in from the United Kingdom Press Association:

Aheists could set up own schools

(UKPA) – 7 hours ago

Atheists would be able to set up their own schools under the Government's education reforms, Michael Gove has said.

The Education Secretary said he would be "interested" to look at proposals from individuals such as outspoken atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.

Prof Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, said last month that he liked the idea of setting up a "free-thinking free school".

Speaking at a Commons education select committee, Mr Gove said: "One of the most striking things that I read recently was a thought from Richard Dawkins that he might want to take advantage of our education legislation to open a new school which was set up on an explicitly atheist basis.

"It wouldn't be my choice of school, but the whole point about our education reforms is that they are, in the broad sense of the word, small "l", liberal. That they exist to provide that greater degree of choice."

Mr Gove, whose two children attend primary faith schools, told the cross-party group of MPs that he "recognised that there are some people who explicitly do not want their children educated in a faith-based setting".

He said: "One of the principles behind our education reforms is to give people the maximum amount of choice so that those people, and they may not themselves necessarily have a very strong religious faith, but who believe that the ethos and values of faith-based education are right for their child, have that choice but others who want a different approach can take it as well."

Speaking afterwards, Mr Gove said he had seen a reference to Professor Dawkins expressing an interest in establishing a school, adding: "If Professor Dawkins wants to set up a school we would be very interested to look at an application."

Prof Dawkins, a former Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, said in a conversation on the Mumsnet website last month: "I like the idea very much, although I would prefer to call it a free-thinking free school.

"I would never want to indoctrinate children in atheism, any more than in religion. Instead, children should be taught to ask for evidence, to be sceptical, critical, open-minded."

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Livingston Parish, LA May Add Creationism To Curriculum

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Using provisions of the Science Education Act enacted last year by the Louisiana Legislature, the Livingston Parish may present what is termed “critical thinking and creationism” in science classes. I don't know about you but when I see critical thinking and creationism in the same sentence I think oxymoron.

From The Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA

School Board might OK teaching creationism

By VIC COUVILLION
Special to The Advocate|

LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish School Board will begin exploring the possibility of incorporating the teaching of “creationism” in the public school system’s science classes.
During the board’s meeting Thursday, several board members expressed an interest in the teaching of creationism, an alternative to the study of the theory of evolution, in Livingston Parish public school classrooms.
The discussion came up during a report on the pupil progression plan for the 2010-11 school year, delivered by Jan Benton, director of curriculum.
Benton said that under provisions of the Science Education Act enacted last year by the Louisiana Legislature, schools can present what she termed “critical thinking and creationism” in science classes.
Board Member David Tate quickly responded: “We let them teach evolution to our children, but I think all of us sitting up here on this School Board believe in creationism. Why can’t we get someone with religious beliefs to teach creationism?”

"We let them teach evolution..."? Excuse me but who is "them"? "Them" sounds ominous.

Fellow board member Clint Mitchell responded, “I agree … you don’t have to be afraid to point out some of the fallacies with the theory of evolution. Teachers should have the freedom to look at creationism and find a way to get it into the classroom.”
Board President Keith Martin, while reminding the members that a decision had been made in the past not to teach creationism, suggested that now might be the time to re-examine the issue.
Martin said that one problem with the teaching of creationism versus evolution is that, “You don’t want two different teachers teaching two different things.”
Martin, noting that discipline of young people is constantly becoming more of a challenge for parents and teachers, agreed: “Maybe it’s time that we look at this.”

What does teaching evolution or creationism have to do with discipline?

When Martin suggested that the board appoint a committee to study the possibility of introducing creationism into the classroom, his opinion met with general, if unofficial approval.
“We shouldn’t just jump into this thing, but we do need to look at it,” Martin said. “The American Civil Liberties Union and even some of our principals would not be pleased with us, but we shouldn’t worry about the ACLU. It’s more important that we do the correct thing for the children we educate.”

This is the most intelligent statement from the board.

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A Not So Good Week

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My mother-in-law has not been feeling well for a few weeks. On Monday we took her to the hospital on advice from my doctor that the vertigo she was feeling may have been the result of a stroke. Well it wasn't a stroke. After a CAT scan it was determined that she had three tumors in her brain.

The small hospital in our town is not staffed to deal with the full diagnosis and initial treatment of cancer. So, they sent her to a larger hospital in the county where they determined she had lung cancer that has metastasised in the brain.

She underwent brain surgery to remove one tumor and send it to pathology to determine what type it is and how best to fight it. She will be starting radiation therapy on Monday for the two remaining tumors in her brain since the are inoperable. After about six to eight weeks she will start chemotherpy.

A not so good week.

Now before all you Christians start offering prayers you need to know she is not religious. And if she were religious she wouldn't believe in Jesus because she is Jewish.

So why am I telling you all this? Well, although it has been a bit cathartic, the real reason is that with all of the heartache and chaos I never once looked for God, Jesus, Yahweh, or any other magical being for help or guidance. In fact, I didn't even think about god(s) until I realized I hadn't given it any thought.

Christians like to tell you that you will come back into the fold when you are in need. Well, if this wasn't a need I do not know what would qualify. So, if ever there was doubt (there never really was) about my being a atheist it has all been erased.

Now I am Truly Offended

It is bad enough that these creeps stalk military funerals, abortion clinics and colleges but now they are stalking Comic-Con.

It seems that the members of the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church aren't very happy about the San Diego Comic-Con. According to them, it's a gathering of lost souls who are obsessively worshipping false idols like Batman:

Are you kidding?! If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here. They have turned comic book characters into idols, and worship them they do! Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it. The destruction of this nation is imminent - so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry.

Members of the church intend on staging a 45-minute protest during one of the least busy days of the convention in order to get everyone back on the right track. [Blastr via Nerd Bastards]

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