保護香港的演化論和科學教育! Protect the education of evolution and real sciences in Hong Kong!

(This is only a test)

English version

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和生命起源的解釋，以展示科學知識不斷轉變的本質。」

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」。教育局起初拒絕接納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」。

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。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。」

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。它經受住了多次試驗，並得到了大量證據，並受如生物化學，遺傳學，解剖學，物理學和地質學等其他科學領域所佐證。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。

新綱領有問題的指引將為偽科學打開一個漏洞，對香港素質教育造成重大破壞，而關於地球上的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。

有證據顯示，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/

In Hong Kong, the new 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."

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 evolutiona during science lessons. The Education Bureau first turned their back to the complaining scientists from the University of Hong Kong, but later stated in a TV program 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. 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".

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 theory, central to biology, has substantial contribution to some of the great scientific and technological advancements in modern medicine and agriculture, 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 should not be taught in science classes.

The problematic statement in the new biology and combined science syllabuses will open a loophole for pseudo-sciences, resulting in a great damage of 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 that show damages have already been made to science education, as schools 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.

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