To: >Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
>83 Piccadilly
>London W1J 8QA
>Switchboard: 020 7509 5555
>http://www.qca.org.uk
Thank you for your detailed reply..
I accept your interpretation that your web-site referred to the
'significance' of race in biology
I absolutely disagree, in the specific case of IQ, that this is a matter for
continuing debate, any more than that the earth is not flat.
A distinguished panel of virtually all leading geneticists, etc, published a
statement in the Wall St Journal a couple of years ago to squash such
wishful thinking. The enormous body of refereed research and massive
longitudinal studies in the last 30 years - particularly Scarr - confirms
the race-IQ genetic relationship.
The Human Genome project has already identified a not-insignificant part
(4%) of this racial causation.
This relationship is indisputably significant in informing public policy.
I (and others) got the impression from your website that your comments are
put forward as being suitable for a science curriculum - and, therefore,
part of the National Curriculum itself. In short, teaching material pure
and simple. I see nothing to dispel this impression.
So you do not provide a good curriculum example, you provide an appalling
example.
In any case, it would have been more responsible to include a statement
about the now univerally accepted Race-IQ genetic connection, and where this
leads in terms of public policy.
May I respectfully suggest that in future you make use of any recognized
International authority in this area; this could be Chris Brand, J. Phillipe
Rushton, Richard Lynch, or in fact any widely published author of refereed
relevant research.
Forgive me for saying so, but there is a distinct odor of Nazi Germany
Science in the 30's, or Lysenko, about this whole episode.
Despite any disclaimer (omitted below, but which of course one accepts),
your actions (see Spectator article) have the effect of reducing the
reputation of British education, British science, and Britain generally.
British education (in particular secondary education) is a valuable product
on the international market. Your actions bring you down to the level of
forced teaching of Creationism in the US South.
- - - - -
[Copies (with part of your reply as below) to: CDA uk.politics.misc,
rec.org.mensa newsgroups, and to academic peers in N. America and the UK]
--------
>...The particular statement does not deny a connection between race and
>biology, but questions its significance. The statement goes on to note that
>this is a matter of continuing debate.The purpose of the statement is to
>set
>the context for the pupil work which follows. Pupils make a range of
>observations and measurements of themselves and check whether simple
>classifications of types of people are adequate in summarising the data
>which results.There are important lessons to be learnt about recording and
>interpreting data and challenging stereotypes.
>None of this information is part of the National Curriculum itself. It an
>example of how one school has used this in its teaching.This means that no
>schools are obliged to teach this, they are offered it as a good example of
>an approach which they may find useful.
>I hope this clarifies the situation.
>
>Dr Martin Hollins
>Principal Consultant, Science and Technology
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Prof Alan J Truelove [mailto:Prof Alan J Truelove]
>Sent: 22 May 2003 23:21
>To: Customer Services
>Subject: Website Feedback
>
>
>Name: Prof Alan J Truelove, PhD(Calif), MA(Cantab.)
>[log in to unmask]
>------
>Re: "Respect..", I was surprised to see asserted in the Science Section
>that there is no biological foundation for 'race'.
>This is a ludicrous and mendacious statement.
>If your curriculaum contains such loony statements, why should anyone take
>any notice of it?
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