香港科學教育關注組 請願書聲明 Concern Group for Hong Kong Science Education Petition Statement
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http://www.gopetition.com/online/28149.html
(附參考)
2009年5月30日
背景：
在香港，2009年9月開始實施的新高中生物學和組合科學課程綱領，包含一句可能會鼓勵不科學理論在科學課傳播的指引。有關段落如下：
「除達爾文理論外，還鼓勵學生探索其他有關演化和生命起源的解釋，以展示科學知識不斷轉變的本質。」[1]
新聞媒體報導，至少有31所香港中學已經承認在科學課上教授創造論和/或智慧設計論作為演化論外的「其他解釋」[2]。教育局起初不重視香港大學科學家的抗議，但後來在一個電視節目中又說創造論不被「視為達爾文理論外的其他解釋」[3]。
在同一個電視節目，一位中學校長抨擊科學家排斥宗教，思想狹隘。另一位中學校長在報紙上說：「我們的宗教信仰不同意演化論」。在5月初，一行62人包括教育工作者和科學家簽署了一項聲明，呼籲受爭議的指引予以保留，因為它「刺激思考，平衡，沒有偏見，並一直運作良好。」[4]
迄今為止，演化論是唯一健全和確立的、解釋地球上生物多樣性的科學理論。它已經通過多次考驗，得到大量證據支持，也受其他科學領域如生物化學，遺傳學，解剖學，物理學和地質學等所佐證。這一生物學的核心理論，在現代醫學和農業的知識和技術進步上作出了許多偉大的貢獻，從而已經拯救了無數的生命和改善他們的生活。
而其他「解釋」，如創造論或智慧設計論，根本不符合科學的定義，並已受國際科學家根據強而有力的理由斥為偽科學。科學家們已經公開和廣泛地指出的，這些思想不應該在科學課教授 [5]。
新綱領有問題的指引將為偽科學打開一個漏洞，對香港教育素質造成重大破壞，而關於地球上生命演化的知識將被不能被科學驗證的想法或概念隱瞞，否認或混淆，從而違背了科學教育的目標。
證據顯示，有些有宗教背景的學校和教師肆無忌憚地在科學課教授創造論和智慧設計論，對科學教育已經造成破壞。教育局，如其抱負和使命所述，有責任給予下一代高質素的教育，它必須認真和急切地解決這一問題，並明確公開表示自己的立場，以免這問題進一步破壞香港的國際形象。
如想更深入了解問題或對我們表示支持，請訪問我們的網站：
http://sites.google.com/site/hkscienceeducation/petition-statement
請願書：
致香港特區政府教育局：
我們簽署人擔心香港科學教育的未來，現向教育局請願，要求當局立即：
1. 發表公開聲明，強調科學教育中科學方法和演化論的重要性，使學生學習最佳的科學知識，區分什麼是科學的理論，什麼不是（如創造論和智慧設計），並沿著這的方向審查課程。教育局應明確指出在科學課鼓勵什麼樣的討論，並強調這種討論須根據科學教育的目的。
2. 澄清教育局在事件上的立場。2009年4月24日教育局在香港電台節目「The Pulse」發表聲明說：「創造論不被認為是達爾文理論外的其他解釋」。為貫徹始終，當局須發表類似的公開聲明，說明：「智慧設計論不被認為是達爾文理論外的其他解釋」。
3. 糾正一些校長，教師和62人團體的破壞性言論，因為它們歪曲科學，倡導教授偽科學。這些人不誠實地使用智慧設計/創造論支持者的材料，但從不向公眾和立法會透露其來源（從而隱瞞他們的智慧設計/創造論立場）。
我們多謝您抽出寶貴時間來閱讀這封信，也將非常感謝您的迅速反應。希望我們能共同努力，建設最優質的香港教育。
（給簽署人的指示：
1. 請用你的真實英文姓名，姓氏須全部大寫（如CHAN Po-Ming, TSE Johnny等）。
2. 顯示您所住區域，如「觀塘」， 「大埔」或「大嶼山」等，如在外国，填写居住城市/州分/省和国家，例如「加州，美国」，「墨尔本，澳洲」等。
3. 提供聯絡方法（它不會出現在公開的請願書，只用於幹事聯絡閣下（如有需要））。
4. 請只簽署一次 -- 如有不肯定或中途發生故障，請重新訪問網站和檢查簽署頁，看看是否已經成功簽署。
5. 邀請您的朋友簽署這項請願書，以協助維護香港的科學教育。感謝你的支持。）
Reference
[1] Science Education - Curriculum Documents.
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2824&langno=1
科學教育 - 課程綱要
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=2824&langno=2
[2] Scientists urge excluding God from biology - Guidelines on creationism criticized | South China Morning Post | 2009-02-07 | EDU1| EDU.
http://sites.google.com/site/hkscienceeducation/in-press/scmp-scientists-urge
[3] RTHK "The Pulse" 2009-04-24
http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/thepulse/20090424.html
[4] Panel on Education, Legislative Council, Government of HKSAR. Meeting on 11 May 2009. 香港特區政府立法會教育事務委員會2009年5月11日會議。
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr08-09/english/panels/ed/agenda/ed20090511.htm
The document was not uploaded to Legislative Council website. Please find a copy below in our website archive: 該文件沒有被上傳到立法會網頁。請檢閱我們網站的存檔：
http://sites.google.com/site/hkscienceeducation/file-archive/edcb2-1499-1-e.pdf?attredirects=0
[5] Interacademy Panel on international issues (IAP)
http://www.icsu.org/Gestion/img/ICSU_DOC_DOWNLOAD/1017_DD_FILE_IAP_Evolution.pdf
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/pdf/0219boardstatement.pdf
Nobel Laureates from The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
(With Reference)
2009-5-30
Background:
In Hong Kong, the new senior secondary school biology and combined science curriculum effective from September 2009 contain a statement in the part of evolution that may encourage unscientific theories to be propagated in science classes. The related passage reads:
"In addition to Darwin's theory, students are encouraged to explore other explanations for evolution and the origins of life, to help illustrate the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge." [1]
News media reported that at least 31 secondary schools in Hong Kong have already admitted to teach Creationism and/or Intelligent Design as an alternative to the theory of evolution during science lessons [2]. The Education Bureau first turned their back to the complaining scientists from the University of Hong Kong, but later stated in a TV program [3] that creationism is not “considered as an alternative to Darwin’s theory”.
In the same TV program a secondary school principal lashed out at the scientists for being narrow-minded by expelling religious ideas. Another secondary school principal said on the newspaper that "Our religious belief does not approve of evolution" [1]. In early May 2009, a group of 62 people, including educators and scientists, signed a statement calling for controversial guidelines to be retained because it is "stimulating, balanced, non-biased and has worked well" [4].
To date, the theory of evolution is the only robust and established scientific theory regarding the biodiversity on Earth. It has stood numerous tests ever since publishing, and is supported by overwhelming evidence and confirmed by other areas of sciences like biochemistry, genetics, anatomy, physics and geology. This central theory in biology has substantially contributed to many of the greatest scientific and technological advancements in modern medicine and agriculture, thus has saved many lives and improved their living.
The other "explanations", such as Creationism or Intelligent Design, are not even consistent with the definition of science, and have been dismissed by scientists worldwide as pseudo-sciences with strong reasons. Scientists have already stated openly and widely that these unscientific ideas should not be taught in science classes [5].
The problematic statement in the new biology and combined science syllabuses will open a loophole for pseudo-sciences, resulting in a great damage to quality education in Hong Kong, whereby knowledge on the theory and fact of evolution of life on Earth are being concealed, denied, or confused with ideas or notions not testable by science, and thus contradicts the objectives of science education.
There are evidences showing damages have already been made to science education, as schools and teachers with religious background unscrupulously teach Creationism and Intelligent Design during science classes. Education Bureau, as stated in its vision statement, is responsible for providing quality education to our next generation; it must address this problem seriously and with urgency, and clearly expresses their position publicly, to prevent this problem from further spoiling Hong Kong’s international image.
To know more about the issue or to support us, please visit our website:
http://sites.google.com/site/hkscienceeducation/petition-statement
Petition:
To Education Bureau, HKSAR Government,
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the future of science education in Hong Kong and petition that immediate action is taken by the Bureau to:
1. Issue open statement to emphasize the teaching of sciences and evolution's underpinning importance in biology, to allow students learn the best of scientific knowledge, to distinguish what is scientific theories from what is not (E.g. Creationism and Intelligent Design), and review the curriculum along this direction. Education Bureau should clarify what kind of discussions is encouraged in science class, and emphasize the purpose of such discussions is to be in accordance with the aim of science education.
2. Clarify the position of Education Bureau on the matter. On the RTHK Program "The Pulse" on April 24, 2009, the Bureau made a statement saying "Creationism is not considered as an alternative to Darwin’s theory". To be consistent, a similar open statement that declares "Intelligent Design is not considered as an alternative to Darwin’s theory" should be issued.
3. Rectify the damaging remarks by school principals, teachers and the group of 62, which distort science and advocate the teaching of pseudo-sciences. These people are being dishonest in using Intelligent Design/Creationism proponents' materials without disclosing the source (thus their Intelligent Design/Creationism position) to the public and legislative council.
We thank you for taking time to read this letter and will very much appreciate your prompt response. We wish to work together for the best of education in Hong Kong.
(Instructions for signers:
1. Sign with your real name in English, all caps for surname / family name (e.g. CHAN Po-Ming, TSE Johnny etc)
2. Show the district you live in, such as "Kwun Tong", "Tai Po" or "Lantau Island" or your city / state & country (e.g. California, USA or Sydney, Australia) etc.
3. Provide method of contact (it will not be shown on the petition publicly, and is only for the group committee's use to contact you if needed).
4. Sign once only -- if you are not sure or a failure occurred midway, check the signatories when you revisit the site to see if you have successfully signed.
5. Invite your friends to sign this petition, to help protecting science education in Hong Kong. Thank you very much for your support.)
