No Winners Here

So the outcome over the remarks by Michael Reiss, a clergyman and Director of Education at the Royal Society is that he is now the ex-Director.

 

I’ve got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, reading his original remarks, I find them somewhat ambiguous. Certainly, one reading of the text is that he was close to calling for a simplistic "teach the controversy" approach in science lessons. When the shit hit the fan, he issued a clarification which outlined the sensible approach, i.e. be prepared to respond to students’ questions. Nonetheless, the calls for his resignation have been strident, and give no quarter. As Richard Dawkins has written:

I agree. Watching Dawkins’ recent series The Genius of Charles Darwin, I was struck by how Dawkins tried to engage those students who clearly believed their religion over the facts of evolution – the very approach being advocated by Michael Reiss. What I found truly worrying in the series was the reaction of the science teachers who refused to engage with the students on their misguided beliefs for fear of losing their jobs. That sort of reaction will only allow igorance to take root further. I see that Francis Sedgemore has picked up on the same points.

 

The Royal Society has not come out of this affair with any credit. This is a self-inflicted wound that does not advance society’s understanding of science one iota.