Science Education in the News
Reporter John Merrow examines the issue of “Unlearning Bad Science” in the commentary section of Education Week (February 23). Morrow writes that the work of changing students’ preconceived notions of science may be more difficult if more schools turn to rote memorization faced with the mandatory science testing under NCLB. “High stakes tests and multiple choice testing often determine how science is taught, says Leon Lederman (Nobel Prize Laureate and founder of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy), who deplores what he calls a winner-take-all-mentality. Too many kids are having their curiosity stamped out by insensitive teaching in the schools.” Says Ray Bacchetti, an education veteran at the Carnegie Foundation “I’ve been in too many elementary schools where the reading and math emphasis was sucking the oxygen out of just about everything else. Teachers would try to work on bits of science . . . but seldom with strong curricular strategies, and hardly ever with useful support from their districts.” To read the entire article, go to http://www.edweek.org.
“Educational complacency will make U.S. feel the pain” is the title of the February 23 USA Today editorial written by Craig R. Barrett, CEO of Intel and a member of Achieve (who last weekend sponsored a national summit on high schools in conjunction with the National Governors Association). Barrett argues that, during a time when U.S. corporations are begging for talent, and foreign scientists and engineers increasingly find well-paying jobs on their own doorsteps, “The harsh fact is that the U.S. need for the highest quality human capital in science, mathematics, and engineering is not being met, nor is it likely to be met soon, judging by U.S. student performance on international math and science tests . . . . The nation stands in immediate danger of losing its edge. True, the United States continues to hold an advantage based on industries established on science and mathematics knowledge. But it doesn't take a genius to see that new generations of well-trained minds will be needed if we're to maintain that advantage. And the competition isn't waiting for us to feel the pain.’ Read the entire editorial online at http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-02-23-barrett_x.htm.
“Panelists Decry Bush Science Policies” was the headline of a February 23 Associated Press (AP) report from last week’s American Association for Advancement of Science annual meeting. AP reported that speakers at the meeting expressed concern that “some scientists in key federal agencies are being ignored or even pressured to change study conclusions that don’t support policy positions.” Other speakers were concerned about the Bush cuts to “education designed to produce the nation’s future scientists” and basic research, and the diminishing flow to the U.S. of foreign-born scientists.
Linking science with literacy in the classroom is the topic of a feature article in the March 2005 issue of Scholastic Instructor magazine. “Linking hands-on science with literacy and the curriculum is growing in appeal, particularly among teachers educated as generalists who feel unprepared to deal with the depth of questions that inquiry and expanded reading can inspire in kids,’ writes reporter Meg Lundstrom. “Studies show that literacy and science belong together,” says Rowena Douglas of NSTA. The article provides many ideas to incorporate science with reading, writing, and art projects. For more information on Instructor magazine, go to http://www.scholastic.com/instructor. (In support of this valuable and important connection, NSTA is featuring an encore of Linking Science and Literacy in the Classroom, a daylong conference for K-8 teachers and funded by the National Science Foundation, on Saturday, April 2 during our 53rd national convention in Dallas, TX, March 31-April 3. For information, go to http://www.nsta.org/conventionsupport&record_id=101&Meeting_Code=2005DAL. Registration closes March 5 for this special event.)