Centre for Life is accredited by the Council for Learning
Outside the Classroom with their Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge,
but I was worried to find out this week that they’d also given this
status to the Noah’s Ark Zoo – a creationist outfit near Bristol,
so I wrote to them expressing my concerns that we are put on a par with such a
dubious body, and got this reply
“Dear Mr Simmon, s
Many thanks for your email concerning the recent award of the Learning Outside
the Classroom Quality Badge to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm.
The criteria for awarding the LOtC Quality Badge are that the organisation must
offer good quality learning outside the classroom and manage risk effectively.
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is very committed to equality
and we will award the Quality Badge to an organisation that can demonstrate
that it meets these criteria; past awards have included Interfaith Kirklees and
Canterbury Cathedral without any implied endorsement of their religious base.
CLOtC believes that an important aim of learning outside the classroom is
allowing children and young people access to education that challenges
assumptions and allows them to experience a range of viewpoints; giving them
the tools needed to be proactive in their own learning.
CLOtC is an independent charity and I would like to stress that the operation
of the LOtC Quality Badge scheme receives no government funding.
Kind Regards
Amy”
Which concerns me even more, such that I am considering
asking to be delisted, as I think giving them a stamp of providing ‘good
quality education’ devalues us by association, if any of your organizations
are LOtC registered and share my concern I would urge you to make it known to
them – their website is http://www.lotc.org.uk/The-LOTC-quality-badge/The-LOTC-quality-badge
IAN
Ian Simmons
Science Communication Director
Centre for Life
Management Suite
Times Square
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4EP
Tel: +44191 2438250
Fax: +44191 2438201
Email:
[log in to unmask]
Life - A Centre for world-class science
This year we celebrate our 10th birthday - Find out more at www.life.org.uk
Doctor Who Exhibition at Life until Sunday 31 October 2010 - Book tickets now at www.life.org.uk/whats-on
10th Anniversary Debate, Science – Where in the Next Ten Years – www.life.org.uk/whats-on
Our mission is to inspire curiosity in science through imaginative exhibitions and events, raise standards in science education and support world-class scientific research.
set psci-com nomail -- [include hyphens]
2. To resume email from the list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message:
set psci-com mail -- [include hyphens]
3. To leave psci-com, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the message:
leave psci-com -- [include hyphens]
4. Further information about the psci-com discussion list, including list archive, can be found at the list web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/psci-com.html
5. The psci-com gateway to internet resources on science communication and science and society can be found at http://psci-com.ac.uk
6. To contact the Psci-com list owner, please send an email to mailto:[log in to unmask] **********************************************************************