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Professor Tanner believed in life before death
BHA news - Tue, 24/08/2010 - 01:00
Professor James Mourilyan Tanner (1920-2010) was a Life member of the British Humanist Association and professor emeritus of the Institute of Child Health at the University of London. He was a renowned expert on human auxology and his contributions to medical science have helped people the world over.
Professor Tanner died on the 11 August this year aged 90, and his humanist funeral was conducted by BHA celebrant Alison Orchard on 23 August. In a eulogy written and read by Professor Noel Cameron from Loughborough University at his funeral, Professor Tanner was described as An intelligent, well read and thoughtful man, scientific and global in outlook.
He had faith in life before death and believed in human endeavour, and, particularly through his unstinting work as an expert human auxologist of world renown, Professor Tanner left humanity better than he found it; there are many people, not here, whose lives have more quality because Jim lived.'
Of his work at the Institute of Child Health, Professor Cameron said, The Department of Growth and Development was by the early 1970s, a centre for research in human growth that was unequalled in the world. Whilst there were other centres and institutes in both Europe and America that focussed on human growth, none had the breadth and depth of research that was occurring within that department. ... The department had resulted from Jims decision to make the study of human growth and development the central research theme of his academic life.
Im sure our clinical colleagues would agree that the he also made fundamental contributions to the clinical assessment and diagnosis of growth disorders, he pioneered the treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency, and the growth disorder clinics formed an educational centre for clinicians from throughout the world in which to study the diagnosis and treatment of growth disorders.
Gently charismatic in nature, Jim was an academic and teacher with a huge international following.
With the news of Jims death messages of sorrow and condolences started to arrive in my computer in-box. One came from a current PhD student who said that it may be corny but it was also true that a little of Jim Tanner continues to live in all of those who study human growth and development. I thought that to be an appropriate accolade for a scientist and teacher that his (or her) work continues to inform generation after generation of students and is thus a living memorial to a life well spent.'
Notes
Humanist Ceremonies is the BHAs network of trained and accredited celebrants in England and Wales. Humanist funerals are widely regarded as unique, personal and often celebratory events, focusing on the life of the person who has died, rather than on doctrines which may not be shared by family and friends at the service.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the growing population of ethically concerned, non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for a secular state and an end to discrimination based on religion or belief.
Categories: Humanism
Church appreciates BBCs commitment to religion
BHA news - Mon, 23/08/2010 - 01:00
The Church of England has submitted a response to the current BBC Trust review of BBC Radio 3, 4 and 7 praising the religious content of the radio stations. The response, co-ordinated by the Archbishops Council Communications Office, celebrates the fact that radio 4 is currently broadcasting 225 hours of religious content a year; 25 hours more than the requirement set in their services licence.
The response also cites the widely accepted fact that the majority....of the adult population of the UK regard themselves as Christians and repeats a call for the BBC to appoint a Religion Editor.
Pepper Harow, BHA Campaigns Officer, stated, That the Church of England has praised the BBC for its religious output is no surprise. There are hours of religious programming every year yet there has never been any programming dedicated specifically for non-religious people- an issue which was noted by the Church of England in their response. We refute the idea that most people want to listen to religious programmes and several studies have shown that interest in religion is waning.
The BHA will also be responding to this review and have encouraged our supporters to do the same. We will not be calling for a Religion Editor which would be an expensive and pointless addition to the already well-resourced Religion and Ethics Team at the BBC. Instead we will be asking the BBC to live up to their legal responsibility to treat non-religious beliefs such as Humanism equally, including in the Radio 4 ethics slot, Thought for the Day.
Categories: Humanism
BHA calls for inquiry as documentary reveals creationism in 'faith' schools
BHA news - Thu, 19/08/2010 - 01:00
The BHA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into faith schools following revelations in a new television documentary to be screened on Wednesday August 18 at 9pm on More4.
Faith School Menace?, presented by BHA distinguished supporter Professor Richard Dawkins, features interviews with religious lobbyists, parents, pupils and experts including BHA chief executive Andrew Copson.
In the film Professor Dawkins discovers that RE lessons in some faith schools present creationism as scientific fact, directly contradicting the evolution components of the national curriculum. In a particularly shocking scene, he finds that all 60 Year 10 science students at a Muslim secondary school reject the theory of evolution in favour of the Quran's story of Creation. The episode leads Professor Dawkins to call for RE to fall under the National Curriculum and for RE teaching in faith schools to be inspected by Ofsted, a policy the BHA has advocated for many years.
The programme also presents the findings of an exclusive ICM poll, in which 59 per cent of the public said they were opposed to any form of state funding for faith schools.
The screening of the documentary comes as the BHA launches a major new fundraising campaign to support its work against state-funded faith schools.
BHA chief executive Andrew Copson said:
The programme confirms what the BHA has known for many years that faith schools can cause religious and socio-economic segregation and lead to thousands of pupils being denied a broad, balanced and inclusive education. Whats more, as this new poll demonstrates, they are opposed by a clear majority of the public.
Throughout the BHAs many years of campaigning on this issue, parents, teachers and pupils themselves have consistently opposed faith schools. The reasons are clear they are divisive, discriminatory and unable to fully recognise the rights of their pupils. Unfortunately, with the coalition governments massive deregulation of education, the situation is only going to get worse.
Speaking on the teaching of creationism in English faith schools, Mr Copson commented:
The programme highlights why we urgently need a tightening up of the legal requirements to prevent creation stories being taught as anything other than religious beliefs. If, as this film seems to suggest, creationism is already being taught as fact in conventional faith schools then how does the government propose to keep it out of religious free schools, which will not have to follow the National Curriculum and are outside local authority control?
Explaining the BHAs call for a parliamentary inquiry, Mr Copson continued:
We are calling on the newly-formed education select committee to conduct a full inquiry into faith schools, looking particularly at their impact on community cohesion, their effect on pupils rights, their effect on a balanced curriculum of objective teaching about religious and non-religious beliefs, and the extent to which science teaching may be undermined. Now is the time for politicians to take a critical look at the role of faith schools and ask if they really are serving the best interests of children and the wider community.
Describing the BHAs new faith schools fundraising campaign, Mr Copson said:
The documentary comes at an opportune time for the BHA as this week we launch a major new fundraising drive to ensure we can continue to employ our dedicated faith schools campaigner for another year. We hope the documentary will act as an incentive for all those concerned about the power and influence of religious groups in our schools to support our work. We must act now to ensure a fairer, more inclusive education for our children in the future.
Categories: Humanism
Charity Commission refuses to allow adoption agency to discriminate
BHA news - Thu, 19/08/2010 - 01:00
The decision by the Charity Commission to refuse a Catholic charitys request to restrict its adoption services to heterosexual couples has been welcomed by the British Humanist Association (BHA).
Leeds based Catholic Care originally appealed to the Charity Commission in 2007 as a result of regulations that prevent discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and successfully challenged the Charity Commissions original refusal in the High Court. In March 2010, the presiding Judge, Mr Justice Briggs, instructed the Commission to reconsider the request, which has again been refused today.
BHA Campaigns Officer Pepper Harow said We strongly welcome the Charity Commissions clear response that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unacceptable. The full decision released by the Commission is clear that Catholic Care has not provided convincing reasons to justify this form of discrimination.
She continued If they wish to operate as a charity offering a public service, they will have to abide by the same laws as every other organisation. To allow them to do otherwise because of religious dogma and prejudices would be a failure to serve the children who need loving homes as well as lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Categories: Humanism
BHA contributes to new documentary on faith schools
BHA news - Mon, 16/08/2010 - 01:00
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson is among a number of experts interviewed for a new documentary on faith schools which will be screened this Wednesday 18th August at 9pm on More4.
Faith School Menace?, presented by BHA distinguished supporter Professor Richard Dawkins, is a passionately argued film which calls on us to reconsider the consequences of faith schools.
The film features interviews with child psychologists, politicians and key players in the faith schools debate as well as insights from both parents and pupils. Professor Dawkins also draws on his own personal history as a father, arguing that the government must stop funding new faith schools, and urging society to respect a child's right to freedom of belief.
The screening of the documentary comes as the BHA launches a major new fundraising campaign to support its work against state-funded faith schools.
Andrew Copson said:
Throughout the BHAs many years of campaigning on this issue, parents, teachers and pupils themselves have consistently opposed faith schools. The reasons are clear they are divisive, discriminatory and unable to fully recognise the rights of their pupils. Unfortunately, with the coalition governments massive deregulation of education, the situation is only going to get worse.
The documentary comes at an opportune time for the BHA as this week we launch a major new fundraising drive to ensure we can continue to employ our dedicated faith schools campaigner for another year. We hope the documentary will act as an incentive for all those concerned about the power and influence of religious groups in our schools to support our work. We must act now to ensure a fairer, more inclusive education for our children in the future.
Categories: Humanism
Protest the Pope open meeting in Richmond a great success
BHA news - Fri, 13/08/2010 - 01:00
A successful open meeting was held last night in Richmond where speakers from the Protest the Pope Campaign outlined the reasons for protesting against honouring Pope Joseph Ratzinger with a state visit.
The meeting room was packed out with over seventy local people wishing to discuss the issues raised by Protest the Pope; including the Popes opinions on condom use, abortion, gay rights and education. The meeting included speeches from human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, NSS President Terry Sanderson, European Humanist Federation President and British Humanist Association Trustee David Pollock and NSS Executive Director, Keith Porteous Wood.
The meeting was organised by Richmond LGBT Forum with a view to forming a local coalition of groups wishing to protest when the Pope visits Twickenham on 17th September this year to address local school children.
Peter Tatchell said, Pope Benedict comes to Britain next month. As democrats, we believe he has every right to come here and express his opinions. But we also have a right to protest against his often harsh, extreme views. We have a right to say that he is not welcome here.
The Protest the Pope campaign is calling on the British government to disassociate itself from the Popes intolerant teachings on issues such as womens rights, gay equality and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV. On these and many other issues, Benedict is out of step with the majority of British people, including most Catholics.
Categories: Humanism
Dismissed Christian council worker not a victim of religious discrimination
BHA news - Wed, 11/08/2010 - 01:00
An evangelical Christian council worker who was dismissed for gross misconduct has lost his claim of religious discrimination. The British Humanist Association has welcomed the judgment as a sane response to ill-founded and illegitimate claims of persecution of Christians in the workplace.
The tribunal found that Duke Amachree, whose case was supported by the Christian Legal Centre, a Christian lobby group, was fairly dismissed from his job as a Homelessness Prevention Officer with Wandsworth Borough Council. The council dismissed him following a complaint from a service user who was distressed when, after she revealed that she had an incurable disease, Mr Amachree used the opportunity to evangelise for his religion in the course of his job and encouraged her to put her faith in god.
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, welcomed the judgment, saying, When we take on jobs of service to others, we need to understand that our own prejudices and preferences come second to the needs of those we are employed to help and serve. The law has very properly upheld that principle today.
He went on, to express the BHAs concern about the growing prominence of cases such as Mr Amachrees: The growing trend for political Christian groups to bring nuisance cases of alleged discrimination is highly alarming. Even when the courts find as they invariably have no evidence of discrimination, these lobby groups, instead of accepting this, go on to claim instead that the whole system of law discriminates against them and that the whole of the law should shift to accommodate their prejudices. Theocratic arguments like this, advanced in the name of equality for Christians, need to be exposed for what they are.
Categories: Humanism
BHA Chief Executive elected as Vice President of International Humanist and Ethical Union
BHA news - Mon, 09/08/2010 - 01:00
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson has been elected as a Vice President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), with delegates unanimously approving his appointment at IHEUs General Assembly in Brussels, 5-7th August. IHEU is the world umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secularist, skeptic, laique, ethical cultural, freethought and similar organisations globally. Its mission is to build and represent the global humanist movement that defends human rights and promotes humanist values world-wide. Andrews election means he will join the executive committee of IHEU which is responsible for developing and implementing IHEUs strategy and objectives.
Fighting superstition, supporting people accused of witchcraft, providing inclusive schools for secular education, representing humanist values and promoting secularism in international political forums, including at the UN in New York and Geneva, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and UNESCO in Paris, were just some of the activities undertaken by IHEU in the past year and reported on at the IHEU General Assembly.
Speaking about his appointment to the Executive Committee, Andrew Copson said, The BHA was involved right at the beginning of IHEU and in recent years BHA supporters have been particularly generous with their time and money in supporting the development of pioneering schools in Uganda that promote freethinking, protect students against religious or other indoctrination and offer hundreds of children a liberal education. I look forward to maintaining and strengthening the BHAs contribution to international Humanism during my own time as a Vice President.
Categories: Humanism
Massive focus on Christianity in governments response to public comments
BHA news - Wed, 04/08/2010 - 01:00
The BHA has today questioned the coalition governments focus on protecting the interests of religious people in their summary response to comments on their Programme for Government. The response covers the wide range of policy areas originally set out in the programme including Justice, Education, Schools and Transport.
The response is riddled with references to religion and religious people; particularly Christianity. For example, the Foreign Affairs section speaks of instances where Christians are persecuted, with very little reference to those who are persecuted for other beliefs. The Equalities section speaks of perceived restrictions to Christians expressing their beliefs and the Communities and Local Government section speaks of Christians and followers of other religions. There appears to be no recognition by government of the contribution of people of no religion and a questionable focus on the interests of religious lobby groups.
BHA Campaigns Officer, Pepper Harow, stated, It is very surprising in the context of our diverse society that the government has chosen to focus on Christianity in this important response. With falling church attendance and survey after survey showing that religion is not important in peoples lives, it is difficult to see why the response should be directed in this way.
We will be meeting with Ministers and working with government departments in the coming months to make sure that the millions of non-religious people in the UK are not sidelined in government policy. We have already been successful in opening the debate with government on issues such as faith schools and will continue to raise these issues at all levels. We want the government to listen to people of all backgrounds and not bow to the pressure of well funded, unrepresentative religious lobby groups.
Categories: Humanism
Protest the Pope open meeting to be held in Richmond
BHA news - Wed, 04/08/2010 - 01:00
The campaign to stop the Pope from visiting the UK on a state visit in September is lending its support to a group of local residents in Twickenham. The local group, named Richmond Coalition against the State Visit will be protesting against the planned visit of the Pope to Twickenham on 17th September, where the pontiff will talk about his views on Education at St Marys University College.
An open meeting has been organised in Richmond on 12th August where speakers from Protest the Pope will outline the reasons for protesting against honouring Joseph Ratzinger with a state visit. After the meeting, local people will have the chance to discuss plans for a protest in September with representatives of local groups who have joined the coalition.
Andrew Copson of Protest the Pope stated, We were approached by several people and organisations in Richmond who were concerned that the Pope plans to come to their area as part of a state visit in September. Although we agree that the Pope may visit the UK in his capacity as a religious leader, we are concerned that this visit is being given state recognition; something that accords honour and public funding to a questionable state which has a dubious reputation for human rights.
The public meeting in Richmond will allow a full discussion of the issues with local people and will allow those who wish to protest against his visit to Twickenham a voice.
Categories: Humanism
BHA seeks urgent clarification over Gove's plans for new 'highly discriminatory' religious schools
BHA news - Tue, 03/08/2010 - 01:00
The BHA is seeking urgent clarification from the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove MP following his statement that the government will make it easier to set up new voluntary-aided (VA) faith schools.
VA faith schools are funded by the local authority and enjoy considerable privileges, including the right to discriminate against all pupils and teaching and non-teaching staff on religious grounds.
The Jewish Chronicle reported that parents who hoped to set up a Jewish free school in Barnet were dismayed at the governments plans to force such schools to take 50 per cent of pupils without reference to religion. The Mill Hill school planning group chair Adam Dawson described the 50 per cent rule as outrageous and political tokenism at the expense of a good education for our children.
Another group, Jewish Primary Education for South Hertfordshire (JPESH), confirmed to the paper that it plans to set up a new VA school rather than a free school as a result of Mr Goves comments.
BHA chief executive Andrew Copson said:
Mr Goves comments confirm that the government is committed to increasing faith schools of all kinds, not just Academies. VA schools operate highly-discriminatory admissions and employment policies, shutting out children and teachers who are of the wrong or no religion. Quite simply, an increase in the number of VA schools will mean an increase in religious and social segregation.
While the 50 per cent rule for free schools doesnt go nearly far enough, it is at least an indication that religious discrimination should be curbed. What is the point of having such a quota if religious groups will now be able to set up a new VA school, which can take 100 per cent of pupils on the basis of religion? It is a worrying indication of government policy that more schools are likely to be created which are not inclusive and give more and more power to religious groups.
Categories: Humanism
No plans for homeopathy in Oxfordshire welcomed by the BHA
BHA news - Mon, 02/08/2010 - 01:00
Confirmation by a local health authority that complementary or alternatives therapies will not be offered has been welcomed by the British Humanist Association (BHA).
Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust has confirmed that homeopathic treatments will not be offered as an alternative to conventional therapies as there is a lack of evidence for their effectiveness.
The announcement comes shortly after the governments response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committees highly critical report of homeopathy. The committees report found systematic reviews and meta-analyses conclusively demonstrate that homeopathic products perform no better than placebos. The government response did not recommend that the NHS should cease funding homeopathic treatments but rather deferred the responsibility on whether to permit the use of homeopathic products to local health authorities.
Naomi Philips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, welcomed NHS Oxfordshires decision: The NHS Constitution is explicit in the patients right to expect local decisions on funding of other drugs and treatments to be made rationally following a proper consideration of the evidence, and we are glad to see these principles being respected in this instance. All the evidence suggests that homeopathic treatments do not work.
Ultimately, we believe it important that the government should adopt the conclusions of their own Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Beddington, who has stated that there is no evidence base for homeopathy or reason for its continued use. In the meantime, it is important local health authorities explicitly state they will not provide homeopathic services.
Categories: Humanism
Gove's pledge on 'extremist' schools must be backed by statutory powers, cautions BHA
BHA news - Thu, 29/07/2010 - 01:00
'Extremist groups' will not be allowed to run free schools, the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove MP has said today. The BHA has welcomed his assurance, but cautioned that further detail is needed.
Michael Gove told MPs on the cross-party Commons education committee: There are concerns about inappropriate faith groups using this legislation to push their own agenda, but we have been working on the regulations to ensure that we don't have any extremist groups taking over schools. The Secretary of State additionally assured the committee that there would be no creationism taught as part of a school's science curriculum.
Gove also told MPs that he recognised that there are some people who explicitly do not want their children educated in a faith-based setting and encouraged atheists to start their own schools.
BHA chief executive Andrew Copson said:
We are pleased that the Secretary of State has finally responded to some of the concerns that humanist MPs and peers have raised throughout the Academies Acts passage through Parliament. We welcome his assurances in relation to the dangers of the influence of fundamentalist religious groups in our school system.
However, there is nothing in the Academies Act itself that will prevent children being exposed to religious indoctrination, nor to stop any particular group from applying to run a state-funded free school. We want to see the government introduce robust safeguards, such as legislative change and statutory guidance, to support todays assurances.
Commenting on the question of atheist free schools, Mr Copson continued:
The BHA campaigns for totally inclusive schools for children of all faiths and none. In our view, many inclusive community schools are already more or less humanist in their ethos and values. If compulsory collective worship was ended and RE became universally objective, fair and balanced, community schools would indeed be humanist in all but name, open and accommodating to all.
Categories: Humanism
BHA: The campaign against 'faith Academies' goes on
BHA news - Wed, 28/07/2010 - 01:00
The BHA has pledged to continue its campaign against the expansion of faith Academies following the granting of royal assent to the Academies Act.
Throughout the passage of the Bill the BHA worked closely with parliamentarians, particularly members of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. The Groups secretary Lady Massey tabled a number of amendments in the Lords, as did its vice chair Dr Julian Huppert MP in the Commons. These covered issues such as discrimination in admissions policies and the risk of extreme religious views being included in the new Academies curricula. Other MPs, including David Ward, Caroline Lucas and committed Catholic Tom Blenkinsop, also spoke out against faith schools following extensive briefing by the BHA.
BHA head of public affairs Naomi Phillips commented:
The BHA has continually warned that the Academies Act will increase the power of religious groups in the English schools system but the government has largely ignored our concerns. We are dismayed that the Academies Act has passed into law with the bare minimum of parliamentary scrutiny, but there is still much we can do to fight the expansion of faith Academies.
The Act contains the loosest of frameworks for how the new religious Academies will operate so we will seek to influence accompanying guidance to minimise their negative impact. We will scrutinise the curricula of new faith Academies and raise awareness if it appears religious dogma, such as creationism, is threatening pupils rights to a balanced education. We will also support local campaigns against new religious Academies as they are proposed.
Categories: Humanism
BHA contributes to children's rights review
BHA news - Wed, 28/07/2010 - 01:00
The BHA has contributed to a major review of childrens rights in England.
Each year the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) produces its State of Children's Rights in England report, a detailed analysis of government progress in complying with the Convention on the Rights of the Child over the last year. CRAE called upon organisations working in the field of human rights to contribute information they felt relevant to establishing the extent of government progress on children's rights over the last year.
The BHA contributed an analysis of recent government guidance, policy initiatives and legal judgements related to three key areas: religious discrimination in 'faith schools', Sex and Relationships Education and Religious Education. The BHA found that, while progress has been made in the last year, these advances need to be reflected in statutory provisions. The BHA's contribution also warned that the coalition government's education reforms may significantly weaken the protection of children's rights.
BHA head of public affairs Naomi Phillips said:
'We work through our campaigns and with other organisations, including children's rights organisations and those directly representing young people, to secure robust legal protections for childrens rights not least in the field of education. There are a number of key human rights issues in education and we have concerns that some education reforms of the previous and present governments may in effect have a deleterious effect on childrens freedom of expression and belief. All organisations working to protect children's rights must be especially vigilant at this time of fundamental change in the school system.'
Categories: Humanism
NHS funding of homeopathy puts patient choice above evidence of effectiveness
BHA news - Mon, 26/07/2010 - 01:00
Homeopathy has no place in a modern state-funded health service unless clear evidence of its effectiveness can be demonstrated, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has reiterated today. The BHA has commented in light of the coalition governments response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committees highly critical report on homeopathy.
The government response acknowledges the lack of evidence supporting homeopathy but insists that patient choice, rather than the efficacy of a medicine, is a guiding factor in the commissioning of services, and that decisions concerning the use of homeopathic services are to be deferred to local Primary Care Trusts. Although the government recognises that the majority of independent scientists have found evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy to be weak or absent, and that there is currently no plausible scientific mechanism for homeopathy, this informed body of evidence has not been adopted as government policy.
Naomi Phillips, the BHAs Head of Public Affairs commented, We believe the government should be sending a clear and unequivocal message that homeopathy does not work and that it should stop NHS funding of homeopathic remedies altogether, instead of permitting continued funding for homeopathy under the rubric of patient choice. The commissioning of services that are known not to work is irrational, ethically questionable, and it may divert funds away from services that are of proven value.
Categories: Humanism
Best way to improve Sex and Relationships Education is to make it compulsory
BHA news - Fri, 23/07/2010 - 01:00
An Ofsted report released today found that most schools it inspected are providing good PSHE, but the quality and provision of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is patchy. The BHA has called for PSHE, including SRE, to become a compulsory subject in all schools.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, said, PSHE and good SRE are important subjects that, as part of a broad, balanced and objective curriculum, helps to equip students with skills, knowledge and confidence they need for healthy, fulfilling and safe relationships now and in later life. Parents, teachers, and young people themselves have long called for PSHE to be made a statutory part of the National Curriculum in all state schools, understanding that change would significantly improve the standard and quality of the subject. It was with great regret that legal reforms set to do so were dropped at the end of the last parliament.
As part of our commitment to promoting and ensuring childrens rights to a good education and unbiased information, we are working closely with a wide range of other organisations, as well as with our supporters in parliament, to seek ways to improve the provision of SRE in all schools. From our perspective, making PSHE statutory, with no parental right of withdrawal, is a vital first step.
Categories: Humanism
BHA condemns appalling decision to give education award to creationist zoo
BHA news - Thu, 22/07/2010 - 01:00
The BHA has strongly condemned the decision of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom to award the creationist Noahs Ark Zoo in Wraxall, near Bristol, a 'Quality Badge' in recognition of its educational programme.
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom was established by the previous government to promote educational visits for schoolchildren. Its Quality Badge is intended to assist schools in identifying external organisations, such as museums, who are 'committed to providing high quality teaching and learning experiences'. The Quality Badge was awarded to Noahs Ark Zoo following a visit by assessors in June.
The BHA is writing to the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom urging them to retract the award.
BHA education campaigns officer James Gray said:
This is an appalling decision. It is entirely inappropriate that the Council should support an establishment that advances creationism and seeks to discredit a wide variety of established scientific facts that challenge their religious views, such as radio carbon dating, the fossil record and the speed of light.
Teachers and parents look to the Council for assurance that children will experience high quality educational visits that meet the relevant government guidelines. Awarding this particular zoo a Quality Badge risks exposing hundreds of children to anti-scientific dogma.'
This is not a freedom of speech or freedom of religion issue. The question is whether the information displayed by this zoo meets the tests of accuracy and truth that parents, teachers and other educational professionals expect.'
Categories: Humanism
Government admits Academies Bill could lead to more religious discrimination as MPs defend inclusive community schools
BHA news - Thu, 22/07/2010 - 01:00
MPs concerned that the Academies and free schools programme will entrench religious discrimination in the schools system were offered little reassurance by the government yesterday as the Academies Bill entered its committee stage. The Bill is likely to receive royal assent before parliamentary recess begins on July 27th.
Amendments tabled by Dr Julian Huppert MP, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, would have prevented or restricted religious discrimination in the new Academies admissions policies. Dr Huppert said Many state-funded faith schools use privileges to have highly selective admissions criteria, giving preference to the children of parents with particular beliefs... Separating children by religion, class and ethnicity is totally antithetical to the aims of social cohesion.
Speaking in support of the amendments, Karen Buck MP asked why across the piece and on average, faith schools have an intake that is substantially less deprived than maintained schools.
In response, schools minister Nick Gibb confirmed that the government will allow existing faith schools to continue operating discriminatory admissions policies when they become Academies, while refusing to protect the inclusive nature of community schools. Mr Gibb also confirmed that existing faith schools which do not currently discriminate could increase the proportion of faith places after becoming Academies. Mr Gibb defended such discrimination by saying that many faith schools maintain their strong religious ethos by ensuring that a significant proportion of their children are faith adherents.
Responding to Mr Gibb, David Ward MP said Frankly, to hear people talk about the special ethos of faith schools makes me quite angry, because it is a slap in the face for all those other non-faith schools that have a fabulous ethos, are loving and caring, and provide a good education for children.'
Concerns were also raised about the restrictive curriculum that could be taught in new faith Academies. Caroline Lucas MP said there will be no requirement on academies to teach evolution, and the Government do not even appear to have plans to prevent the teaching of creationism in academies.
Speaking in support of an opposition amendment which would have made PSHE compulsory in Academies, Dr Lucas went on to say The British Humanist Association has asked, legitimately, whether a new, state-funded, Catholic academy would be allowed not to teach sexual reproduction in biology lessons, let alone wider and more objective sex and relationships education. Again, as far as we can see, nothing in the new, deregulated system proposed by the Bill would seem to prohibit that from happening.
BHA head of public affairs Naomi Phillips said:
The reality is that new religious Academies will be able to discriminate against children on religious grounds, excluding those of the wrong or no religion. It will prevent many existing faith schools from ever becoming inclusive and could lead to some discriminating in admissions when they didnt before. By freeing these new faith Academies from the national curriculum, the Bill could also expose children to extreme religious views, including creationism.
The majority of the public are concerned about the influence of religious groups in our schools, but the Government has simply refused to address their concerns. It has rushed through this legislation without proper scrutiny and in doing so risks permanently entrenching religious discrimination and privilege in our schools system. It will be parents, teachers and children themselves who will be left to pick up the pieces.
Categories: Humanism
A compassionate law on assisted dying is urgently needed
BHA news - Wed, 21/07/2010 - 01:00
Legal reforms on assisted dying are urgently needed, including to distinguish between cases of mercy killing and murder, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has said today. The BHA has made its comments in light of a new legal case launched by Tony Nicklinson which seeks clarity in the law on murder and assisted dying, and ahead of an appeal later today in the case of Frances Inglis, who was given a life sentence earlier this year after being found guilty of murder after giving her permanently brain-damaged son a lethal heroin overdose.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented, We need a law on assisted dying that is sensible, ethical and forward-thinking. Legal cases highlight the need for the law to distinguish between where a person has compassionately assisted another to die, and where that was done with malicious intent or murder. However, it is for parliament to legislate for that change and it has thus far failed to do so, leaving those who help a terminally ill or incurably suffering loved one to die facing life imprisonment, and taking away autonomy and choice for people at end of life.
Ultimately, we want assisted dying to be legalised in the UK. Without those legal reforms, those who are vulnerable remain at risk because legal safeguards, which would accompany the legalisation of assisted dying, are not in place to protect them from coercion or other malice. Now is the time for parliamentarians to reform the law to one that upholds peoples fundamental human right to die with dignity, in a manner of their choosing, and protects those who are motivated by compassion to assist anothers death.
Categories: Humanism
