I READ William Liston's letter (November 5) just as the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 broadcast an item on Contact Theory and how it can be applied to good effect in schools across the UK.

The idea that education can or should be delivered in a faith context belongs in the last century. The purpose of the public education systems across the UK is to deliver teaching based upon an agreed curriculum for each level within each system.

"Catholic social teaching in English, History and Modern Studies", whatever that might be, has no relevance to the curriculum but is a matter for those within that particular faith community in their own time. While everyone would acknowledge and recognise Catholic mass, there is no such thing as Catholic maths.

Contact Theory's value is in its application, where the basic premise that interpersonal contact across communities improves understanding and reduces prejudice. The more varied the range of contact, the richer the educational, non-curricular experience.

This is in sharp contrast with the atavistic view of the Catholic hierarchy, which seeks to retain measures of control over education at any cost, even down to a veto on teaching appointments.

Our shared experience of last and this century shows us that faith schools belong in the past.

John McAleer,

24 Clelland Avenue, Bishopbriggs.