Teachers employed by a large group of Queensland Christian schools were told to teach creationism in science classes, including that vegetarian baby dinosaurs would have been taken aboard Noah’s Ark.
Last year, the Open Brethren organisation Christian Community Ministries (CCM) hosted a Christian science conference by the US-based fundamentalist group Answers in Genesis, which once built a replica of Noah’s Ark – with model dinosaurs included.
Some Queensland science and humanities teachers working at CCM – which operates 15 schools around Australia – were told it was compulsory to attend the event.
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The conference featured a presentation by the Answers in Genesis’ director of research, Australian geologist Andrew Snelling.
Those present say Snelling told them the radiometric dating techniques used by mainstream scientists to show fossils and rocks are millions of years old were flawed. He said the Himalayas were formed by the “great flood”, and that juvenile vegetarian dinosaurs had been on the ark.
Teachers say they were then encouraged to incorporate the material by Snelling into their science and humanities lessons.
Those who raised concerns with Guardian Australia made clear they did not object to faith-based schools teaching religious doctrine; their concern was that schools had a responsibility to educate children based on the curriculum.
Faith-based schools in Queensland are required to teach the approved syllabus.
Prof David Geelan, the president of the Science Teachers’ Association of Queensland, said the science curriculum explicitly introduces the theory of evolution to students from year 10.
“The students need to understand evolution as an explanation for the diversity of life and talk about the scientific evidence that supports the theory.
“A thoughtful and nuanced teacher [at a faith-based school] could say: ‘In our church we believe X, but for your assessments you should demonstrate your understanding of the scientific theory as currently developed.’ But I’m not sure that always happens.”
A ‘distrust of science’
Answers in Genesis is a “young earth creationist” group which disputes significant strands of consensus science, and claims instead that scientific evidence supports the biblical creation story.
Last year Guardian Australia revealed the US-based group, now fronted by former Australian Christian Lobby head Martyn Iles, had flagged a push into Australia.
But Geelan said that in order to sustain the theory of creationism “you have to end up being sceptical about a whole heap of current scientific knowledge”.
“Answers in Genesis say scientists are lying to you … [and] that very often then forms up with other forms of science denialism. That distrust of science is the main negative.”
Geelan said while schools are required to teach the syllabus there “isn’t really a mechanism for checking this”.
“They probably shouldn’t be teaching things that directly contradict the syllabus.
“But there aren’t school inspectors going around. There’s less of that compliance, the school has some autonomy to teach as they wish.”
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority said in a statement the state’s science syllabuses and resources “support the teaching of scientific theories, including the theory of evolution”.
“Queensland schools develop courses of study and assessment based on the requirements in our syllabuses and other advice and guidelines.
“We have several checkpoints during the year to ensure these requirements are being met.
“Principals are ultimately responsible for the quality and content of teaching and learning in their schools.”
The chief executive of Christian Community Ministries, John Lyndon, said the organisation’s schools teach “the full requirements of the Australian curriculum”, including the theory of evolution.
“At the same time, as a Christian school, we also welcome insights from scientists and scholars who work from a biblical worldview. This enables students to engage thoughtfully and objectively in determining their own beliefs and to develop a well-rounded understanding of life.”
Lyndon said Snelling was “a highly qualified and respected geologist” and said Guardian Australia had been given “inaccurate” and “absurd” information about the presentation.
“CCM schools are highly respected by our parents and school communities, who have deliberately chosen us to educate their children, being fully aware that our schools offer a Christ-centred educational opportunity which is wholly compliant with the Australian Curriculum.”
Snelling did not respond to a request for comment.
Answers in Genesis is hosting a series of events in Australia, beginning later this month, including at Mueller College in north Brisbane, a school run by CCM.
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