Creationism (Schools) (PE1530)
Agenda item 3 is consideration of a petition. On 27 January 2015, the Public Petitions Committee referred petition PE1530, by Spencer Fildes on behalf of the Scottish Secular Society, to this committee. The petition stated that it wished the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to issue official guidance to bar the presentation in Scottish publicly funded schools of separate creation and young earth doctrines as viable alternatives to the established science of evolution, common descent and deep time.
We considered the petition at our meeting on 10 March and agreed to write to the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages with a number of questions. The minister’s response, which we have now received, is attached to the members’ committee papers, and I invite the committee to consider what further action, if any, it wishes to take on the petition or to make comments on the matter.
We should close the petition.
Okay. Do other members have comments?
The three questions that we posed to the minister have been addressed. I note in particular the comment about having a “non-statutory curriculum” and the risks of going down a route that might begin to undermine that approach. As the letter from the minister contains the assurances that we were looking for, I am, like Chic Brodie, minded to close the petition.
In this unique instance, I agree with the Government. The main point in the letter is that
“It is preferable to leave the curriculum to teachers and enable them to exercise their professional judgement on what is taught, rather than legislate to ban issues”
in schools. That says it all. As a result, I think that I am on the same page as others who have spoken.
The minister has answered the concerns that we expressed about the prevalence of the issue, and I am reassured that it has not been an issue in schools or in science lessons. As a result, I agree with what seems to be the consensus that we close the petition.
One of the concerns that I raised was not about the banning of discussions of such philosophies and ideas in schools but about the possible intrusion of creationism into science classes. In the minister’s letter—which I will quote to ensure that it is in the Official Report—he has helpfully pointed out:
“Guidance provided by Education Scotland, set out in the ‘Principles and Practice’ papers and the ‘Experiences and Outcomes’ documentation for each of the 8 curriculum areas does not identify Creationism as a scientific principle. It should therefore not be taught as part of science lessons.”
The Government could not have made that any clearer, and I am therefore in accord with other members that, in light of the Government’s letter, we should close the petition. Do members agree to write to the petitioner, informing him of our decision and enclosing a copy of the minister’s letter?
Members indicated agreement.
The petition is now closed.
As the committee has agreed to hold the next items in private, I close the meeting to the public.
12:30 Meeting continued in private until 12:48.