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Ian Fuller suffers from a fundamental misconception if he thinks that the function of education is to act as a forum for discussing new ideas and perspectives ("Science of Earth's birth not set in stone", June 30). The main purpose of education is to introduce people to the best that is worth knowing. Using his arguments, some could attempt to justify placing astrology on the curriculum.

Fortunately, the vast mass of educated people recognise creationism for what it is - a non-scientific religious belief whose only value in educating anybody about science is to explore the demarcation between science and non-science. Even then there are better examples. There is nothing to suggest, and certainly not in Fuller's arguments, that society should change its current practices in science education.

Jonathan Osborne

King's College London