Creationism must not be taught as fact; VOICE OF THE NORTH.

CONTRARY to TR Manley (Voice of the North, July 21), I say congratulations to playwrights Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood for bringing to light how, in some state schools, creationism is taught as scientific fact.

Teaching creationism (the literal truth of the Book of Genesis) in biology lessons is deceitful. Set against the overwhelming scientific proof of human and animal development as outlined by Charles Darwin 150 years ago, and added to by modern techniques like DNA, carbon dating and the like, creationism is nothing short of mumbo jumbo.

The playwrights are correct to point out that it is wrong for a millionaire to dictate what is taught in state schools, especially the creationism myth, which belongs in RE lessons alongside comparative religions and other assorted superstitions.

I saw their excellent play Maggie's End in London earlier this year. It was an intelligent, funny and thought-provoking piece. If God Only Knows is anything like Maggie's End it will cause welcome debate.

And I couldn't help notice the delicious irony in TR Manley's letter when he, for some unexplainable reason, called the writers "fascists" and then went on to quote the Pope for justification of creationism.

Firstly, the Vatican leadership were apologists for the actual goose-stepping, mass-murdering fascism of Mussolini and Hitler, and secondly, the current Pope (Benedict XIV) as plain Joseph Ratzinger, was a uniform-wearing member of the Hitler Youth, which he joined in 1941. JULIE CORNWELL, Jesmond, Newcastle