Why not teach astrology, numerology and flat Earth beliefs as well?

SCMP Letters to the Editor - (Feb 14, 2009)

The headline of your editorial last week was exactly three words too long ('Teach Darwin's theory of evolution, and others too', South China Morning Post, February 7).

If Hong Kong's Education Bureau supports the possibility of teaching alternative explanations such as creationism in biology classes in conjunction with evolution, then what's to stop alchemy from being taught in chemistry, numerology in mathematics, astrology in physics and flat Earth beliefs in geography?

Fortunately, there is substantial evidence within the scientific disciplines that eliminates the need to entertain any pseudoscience nonsense.

In contrast, since there is no substantial evidence to show that one religion or faith is better and more worthy than another, I support the teaching of all faiths in a social science or humanities class.

If the true aim of education is to nurture open, inquiring and critical minds, then what better demonstration than to teach students about all the world's faiths and then let individuals decide for themselves which faith, if any, they may wish to follow?

WILL LAI, Western