Sir, - It's a pity that King's Academy has come in for criticism even before the first pupils have come through its doors. With so many interesting things on the curriculum I don't imagine there will be much time left for the teaching of creation.
Since, however, this matter has been raised, I should like to make a few points.
Because most of the big guns in the scientific community, and nearly all our media gurus, proclaim evolution as if it were proven beyond doubt, it is difficult for most of us to get our heads round the idea that evolution might not be as scientifically sound as we suppose.
One might think it would be professional suicide, but there are scientists holding senior positions in our British universities who have gone into print with the suggestion that the evidence supports a six-day creation framework better than an evolutionary one.
Evolution and creation spawn two very different value systems, and this is where the education of our children comes in. If we tell our young people that everything has got here by chance and that they share a common ancestry with animals, we should not be too surprised if some of them find life a meaningless rat race and begin to behave like animals if they want to.
If, on the other hand, we tell them that God has made them and has revealed in the Bible everything they need to know to live happy and meaningful lives, we are surely giving them the best chance to do just that.
King's Academy is a brave venture and we can only wish them well. Many disadvantaged young people will be given the chance of a lifetime, but the obstacles are great and it will take time and the good-will of the local community to ensure its success. Let's wait and see what kind of young citizens are turned out in a few years' time.
DIANA WILLIAMS
Sowerby
Sir. - I would like to support your correspondents (D&S Times August 1) in their expressions of concern over the opening of fundamentalist "faith" schools in the North-East.
Short of starvation or actual physical violence, there can be few things which are more immoral in the treatment of young people than to systematically lie to them in the name of education.
The issue here is not purely the beliefs being promoted; it is the systematic perversion of the intellectual process by which truths about the material world are tested. After many years of bigotry and persecution, the mediaeval church eventually had to concede that the earth is not the centre of the universe, and about a 100 years ago most sensible people of all faiths accepted that the account of creation given in Genesis is a legend. In each case the point of no return came when it became clear that a huge body of experimental evidence contradicted what had been accepted up to that time.
How people who claim to value education today can presume to impose these archaic beliefs on young people is a mystery to me, but let us all make sure, as best we can, that they don't get away with it.
ROGER A FISKEN
Burneston,
Friarage unrest
Sir, - Unrest among the workforce at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital (D&S, Aug 1) disturbs all concerned about the future of hospital and medical services in North Yorkshire.
As the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Health Care Trust is shortly to be examined over medical provision, I asked at a recent board meeting about the increase or otherwise of local medical consultations and treatments promised at the time of the merger of the Friarage and South Tees.
Has this happened? Have we better or worse services in Richmondshire, since the Duchess of Kent Military Hospital closed?
Coun TONY PELTON
High Green,
Plan fiasco
Sir, - We write with reference to the meeting of the Richmondshire District Council planning committee on July 29 and in particular the application by Penty Farming for an agricultural worker's dwelling.
As members of that committee, we were left speechless by the behaviour of council leader John Blackie who, despite national, regional and local planning guidance, the advice of planning officers and of independent consultants to the contrary, proposed that the application be passed.
When this vote was lost on the casting vote of the chairman, he then shouted out, without being called to speak, a further proposal that the matter be deferred for further consultations with Defra - even though we already had its submission. We believe this conduct is highly irregular. It begs the question whether this matter will be deferred ad infinitum until Coun Blackie gets the vote he wants.
Most regrettably, however, this fiasco threatens to undermine the planning procedure in Richmondshire by weakening the authority of officers, endangering the local plan, setting a precedent and losing the public's confidence in the district council.
Couns GINA RAMSBOTTOM, LINDA CURRAN, JANE PARLOUR
Richmondshire District Council.
Train joy
Sir, - Congratulations to the Wensleydale Railway Company for bringing the train back to the dale. My first ride was so enjoyable and it is good to read about the special events which are to be available, and the proposed extensions in the near future. I am sure that the dale will benefit greatly from this new amenity.
I wish everyone concerned every success in the future.
JOAN CAIRNS
Thornborough,
Leyburn.
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