A Scottish primary school became the centre of a creationism row last week, after several parents complained about a fundamentalist Christian group handing out creationist books to pupils. Kirktonholme Primary in East Kilbride had for the past eight years allowed a US sect the Church of Christ to provide chaplaincy and voluntary activities in the school. The complaints eventually led to the removal of the school's two head teachers, and the banning of the group from being involved in any school activities in the area.

The decision to remove the teachers and ban the sect has divided opinions in Scotland. Some people siding with the teachers' decision to allow the Church of Christ’s activities question the legitimacy of the ban, pointing out that other churches with unscientific teachings, such as the virgin birth, are allowed to continue volunteering in schools. According to a Christian teacher, the sect's views aren't even that controversial: “the topics discussed, the correctness of creationism and the sinfulness of homosexuality, actually conform to mainstream Christian belief.” In an opinion piece, a proponent of teaching creationism claimed that evolution was not “settled conclusively”. Another expressed concerns that only Darwinism, “a threadbare theory, which is over 100 years old,” would be taught rather than allowing the question [of origin of life] to “remain open”. One commentator also suggests that in the future “our 'Big Bang' story might well be viewed on par with some of the other creation stories.”

Angry parents think otherwise. “If a head teacher can happily accept a book that flies in the face of science education, and allow this to be handed out to five-year-old children, I really have to wonder about the state of Scottish education,” parent Paul Sanderson commented. The creationism row has also fuelled calls for removal of religious observance from Scottish schools. Alastair McBay from the National Secular Society wrote in the Scotsman: “What is evident from this episode is that the chaplaincy position in schools is being abused by Christian evangelical groups to target school children for evangelisation and proselytisation.”

The Scottish Secular Society can tell you more about the controversial books, titled Truth be Told – Exposing the Myth of Evolution and How do you know God is real?.