ACADEMY A GOOD THING

Doncaster Free Press (20 Oct 05)

I have watched with interest the development of the new Academy at Thorne and listened to and read the many debates into whether or not it would be good for Thorne and its students.

It is now up andd running. Already the attitude of the pupils, their appearance and behaviour in and around the town has improved tremdously.

They have a new found pride in their school, respect for their fellow pupils and staff and are delighted to work in such calm surroundings while enjoying such wondrful facilities.

The Christian ethos, which some people seemed to find disturbing is based simply on principles which should be the foundation of all our lives. I do hope that those who have been voluble in their objections to the academy will have the magnanimity and grace to admit that they may have been wrong and join with the majority of us who wish it well.

JM W
St Nicholas Road
Thorne

REPLY
I have e-mailed the Doncaster Free Press with this reply. (25 Oct 05)

I would like to reply to J Waller’s letter on Trinity Academy in which he attributes the improved behaviour & appearance of the children around the town to its Christian ethos.

Considering the new school only opened last month, I find this conclusion to be highly implausible.

It is obvious from reading Mr Waller’s further comments that far from being an impartial observer of events, he is in fact very biased towards the academy & the sectarian religious viewpoint it is promoting.

I would therefore urge readers to take Mr Waller’s opinions with a pinch of salt.

As things stand, none of the original criticisms of the Academy have been answered, despite the attempts of the government & Emmanuel Schools Foundation to downplay them.

For instance, there is still concern over the teaching of creationism. Despite their constant denials, only the Emmanuel Schools Foundation assert that there is controversy surrounding the Theory of Evolution or claim that it is only one of a number of theories relating to origins.

Such a viewpoint is completely rejected by the scientific community who do not accept that there is any controversy over the core principles of evolution or that there is any viable alternative to it. The only people who are promoting a contrary viewpoint are creationists.

I personally find it very worrying that the biblical views of a handful of scientifically illiterate fundamentalist Christians should be given precedence over established scientific opinion. Let’s hope such a policy is not extended into medicine or structural engineering – for all our sakes!

Alan B