Educational functions of science teaching

The educational influence of natural science teaching is often neglected or minimized, which is wrong, even risky, considering the age in which we live. If the outcome of the educational process is to create an informed, proactive and responsible citizen who, on the basis of scientific and technological knowledge makes decisions which do not jeopardize him or his ecological and social environment, who cares about sustainable development - science teaching can contribute significantly to the desired outcome. The aim of this paper is to analyse educational potentialities of science teaching and to define those educational goals especially important for education in modern social circumstances. They are, primarily, (1) formation of scientific view of the world; (2) formation of attitudes, convictions and value systems; (3) development of skills necessary for the role of the responsible citizen.