Greek scientists urge teaching of evolution [View All]

[and-justice-for-all]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060812/sc_afp/greeceeducationdarwin_060812210755

Sat Aug 12, 5:07 PM ET

ATHENS (AFP) - Greek scientists have called on the education ministry to insist on teaching the concept of evolution, or Darwinism, which they say is practically unheard of in the country's schools, a press report said.

"The evolution theory is included in secondary school books but it is not taught sufficiently because time is limited and teachers don't make it to the end of the book where this theory is dealt with," Manos Papadakis, head of the Greek association of bioscientists, told Kathiremini newspaper.

"It depends on the good will of some teachers if students hear anything about (Charles) Darwin," he said, warning that "nothing can be understood in biology without the evolution theory."

Papadakis said students were lacking vital information on life and their own existence and history.

A petition urging the ministry to act was signed by 200 scientists.

Darwin developed his theory of evolution and natural selection in the mid-19th century.

Greece's influential Orthodox Church which defends creationism based on the Bible did not immediately comment on the scientists' appeal.


This is a great statement: "Papadakis said students were lacking vital information on life and their own existence and history."

Obviously when you teach people things from fairy tales, they will be lacking.