Making evolution a compulsory part of the primary science curriculum (“In the beginning must be evolution, say top academics”, June 18) is worthwhile - providing we remember the following:
- It is a very useful grand theory - but still only a theory. True scientists and educators should be wary of any fundamentalism, including the sort that tries to convert a hypothesis into a fact by shouting louder.
- That accompanying citizenship or RE lessons should be given space to examine some of the issues that arise if we try to apply these theories to the way we organise human society (as Darwin didn’t.)
A quick read of Dennis Sewell’s The Political Gene shows that some so-called “Darwinian” ideas can turn out very nasty indeed.
Chris Hudson.