Letters: Fundamentalism

The Foundation and the new school's staff seem curiously reluctant to publicise the extremity of their views on this subject, perhaps because they make a mockery of the "science" which pupils are to be taught at this (80pc) taxpayer-funded school.

Your photograph of studious, receptive young people at the Foundation's Emmanuel College becomes less uplifting when we consider that the biblical creationism presented to them as the "always better" interpretation of scientific data flies in the face of all our understanding of biology, geology, astronomy and physics.

I am sorry if this letter sparks off the usual flurry of responses from those who feel that some Christian ethos is just what our young people need. I happen to feel that a rising generation of considerate, rational human beings would serve our country and our planet better, but we can agree to differ on that point.

What we must not disagree on is the value of the knowledge that we have accumulated through centuries of scientific inquiry, and that informs and illuminates all aspects of our lives.

The post-modern notion that all world views are "faith-positions" of equal validity is simply not borne out by our daily experiences. If the word "wrong" has any meaning, then we must accept that someone who thinks the moon is made of cheese is wrong, and though we may defend his right to such a view, we do that person no favours by failing to dispute the point.

Equally, someone who thinks the world was created in six days is simply wrong, and, in offering such a view as scientific fact to impressionable young people, is also dangerously misguided.

Parents and other taxpayers might want to consider this before celebrating the opening of the King's Academy in September.

RICHARD LEES

Eaglescliffe.

Sir, - I read with interest the two thirds of a page devoted to the King's Academy (D&S July 25), the school to be opened in Middlesbrough in September, the second of six to be sponsored by the Vardy Foundation.

Whilst I applaud the requirements that each school must have a sixth form and that children will not be allowed time off to go on family holidays, I am not so happy about the requirement for the schools to have a Christian-based ethos.

I wonder how many readers remember the reports in the national press and on national radio a few months ago about the first school sponsored by the Vardy Foundation, Emmanuel College in Gateshead, where their idea of "Christian-based ethos" is to teach fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism is based on the chronology of the Bible. James Usher (1581-1656) was Archbishop of Armagh from 1625, presumably not an onerous office since he had time to write a lot of books, including Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti in which he declared that the earth was created in the week ending Saturday, October 22, 4004. This date was even used in the King James' version of the Bible, thus giving religious loonies a peg on which to hang their resistance to the geologists' theories that the earth was in fact squillions of years old.

This sort of unscientific nonsense is bad enough in the Deep South of the US, but is it what we want our children to be taught?

PATRICIA TRICKER

Arrathorne,

Bedale.

Colburn let down

Sir, - Despite the best efforts of some 800 members of the community of Colburn, Couns Miller and Glover, the community was let down when the issue of the proposed waste recycling plant was discussed at Richmondshire District Council planning meeting on Tuesday.

The Town Mayor, District Coun Peter Wood, did not attend, nor did he provide any written comment. He was in fact the named substitute on the committee and yet the Deputy Leader, Richard Dunn took his place.

The committee was treated to a misleading diatribe led by Coun John Blackie, the council leader from Hawes, who proposed the recommendation and Coun Dunn, who seconded it by referring to the area being little more than a "human toilet". The last vote which was in favour was cast by the committee chairman Coun Fryer.

It is extremely disappointing that the planning committee ignored the wishes of the Colburn community and could not even defer the planning issue for a site visit that would have been the appropriate way forward.

Current planning training highlights the need to listen to the views of the community - councillors are supposed to represent the views of the electorate not blindly follow! None of the questions asked by myself were answered at public question time.

The committee was told that the district needs to increase its recycling percentages - no one disputes this. What is lacking is a reasoned justification for the location which is behind a caf, food warehouse, doctors' surgery and social club!

I hope that the views of the Town Mayor will be sought and printed so that the community can see his view.

Colburn deserves better than this!

Coun HELEN GRANT

Colburn Town Council,

Forest Drive,

Colburn.

Unfair charge

Sir, - I have had the misfortune to contact Hambleton District Council environmental health department with regards to vermin (rats) crossing my property.

I was told that if I wanted the problem dealt with, I would have to pay. The rodent operator would call and place bait around the perimeter of my premises.

To this offer I said no thanks. I would not pay because the service should be free. Baiting my property would not solve the problem, only dealing with the source would be satisfactory. Several of my neighbours have been troubled by rats but all are reluctant to approach the council because of the charges imposed.

I was so incensed by the attitude of the council, I wrote to the local MP, Anne McIntosh, who took up the matter on my behalf.

In reply to Miss McIntosh, the head of environmental health and housing, Eric Kendall, states that the council has a duty under the prevention of damage by rats act to deal with infestations.

If people will not call in the rodent operator because of the charges and the council does not investigate the problem, it is surely failing in its duty.

Mr Kendall also states that Hambleton District Council started to charge for the rodent service in April 2003 - in line with other councils. I am not concerned with other councils just Hambleton District which imposed a 10.7pc increase on council tax payers this year.

This increase is way above the rate of inflation. Many of the local councillors were opposed to the rodent charges being introduced but were overruled.

T BARKER

Byland Avenue,

Sutton Road,

Thirsk.

Two reasons

Sir - I write with regard to the report on the meeting of Egglescliffe Parish Council in last week's D&S Times.

Could I please correct one small item under the heading "public land"?

The council's grounds for objecting to the applications at 7 Meadow End and 25 Woodford Green which propose to enclose public open space for private garden are:

"The loss of public open space and the possibility of loss or damage to existing trees"

HELEN RENNISON

Clerk to Egglescliffe Parish Counci