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Eric, Clifford et al.:
 
I wouldn't suggest that you (or some collaborative of we) should not draft a statement ON(as opposed to ABOUT) evolution, but I have reservations about the effect and effectiveness any such statement might have without a higher level discussion of strategy and tactics.
 
Refering back to Phil's message of earlier today, the statement is reactive and political by intent. These aren't bad reasons to write it and post it prominantly. But they are reasons to look at the stratgies and tactics used by those we would be reacting to. By and large, political debate is in the media, and science centers generally and collectively have a great deal of access to media and therefore to reading, viewing and listening populations long before they ever reach our doorsteps to read the statement. We should want to look at scenarios of desired and likely outcomes for actions we take in regard to our statements as well as our actions and programming. 
 
I think these larger issues might provide the framework for a concerted strategic plan that could frame any statement and also serve to focus and coordinate other efforts -- because other efforts will be required. One assumes that we all have a passionate desire to provide science information and experiences in perpetuity rather than going down in a blaze of glory.
 
Best regards,
 
Charlie
 
Charles Stout
Media Arts Manager
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Ann Arbor, MI
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Siegel <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 11:02:37 -0400
Subject: Science and Evolution Statement: Drafting Committee?


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers 
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions. 
***************************************************************************** 
 
Clifford and all: 
 
I think that there is enough complexity in this discussion, and enough seriousness in the intent of having some kind of unified statement, that we need a face to face meeting of interested people. The questions I have are: 
 
1) Is this an ASTC statement? Or a statement by science centers who wish to sign on? 
2) Who wants to be on the drafting committee? I am willing to participate, or coordinate if it is useful. 
3) What is the approval process? These things can get edited to death, but we want as many people as possible to sign on. 
 
We would be willing to host an informal meeting at the Hall of Science of people interested in drafting such a statement. If ASTC wants to take the lead on this, then perhaps they should be the formal hosts, but the Hall of Science is a very convenient point of access (5 minutes from LGA, etc), and we could certainly arrange a facility for people to phone in while reviewing drafts etc. If ASTC does not want to take the lead on this, then it will simply be a statement signed by x science centers. 
 
On the other hand, it could wait until the ASTC conference in the fall.  So, here are the questions in readily answerable form: 
 
1) Can Bonnie or Wendy or whomever from ASTC let us know if they want to take the leadership role in this? 
2) Are people willing/interested to join a drafting committee? 
3) If you want to join such a committee, can you come to NYC later this spring or early summer? We could make it a fly-in and fly-out day (10-4 is more than enough time) And...and here is the kicker...we would provide lunch! Or can you participate by phone (probably have to limit this number...and lunch is on your own) 
4) Would you participate if the drafting committee meeting was held at the ASTC meeting? 
 
Let me know your thoughts on this, and if you can respond to specific questions we can see how we might move forward. 
 
Eric Siegel 
Executive VP 
  Programs and Planning 
NY Hall of Science 
47-01 111th Street 
Queens, NY 11368 
www.nyscience.org 
On Apr 13, 2005, at 11:05 PM, Clifford Wagner wrote: 
 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology > Centers 
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related > institutions. 
> *********************************************************************** > ****** 
> 
> On Apr 13, 2005, at 4:26 PM, Ted Ansbacher wrote: 
> 
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology >> Centers 
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related >> institutions. 
>> ********************************************************************** >> ******* 
>> 
>> For all the good intentions of the written statements on science and 
>> evolution, they strike me as similar to some of our explanatory >> exhibit labels. We 
>> struggle to make them correct and concise, yet in the end they have >> meaning 
>> mainly for those who already know what they mean. The problem is that >> we are 
>> reverting to teaching by telling, and many of us are in the science >> center world 
>> because we thought there was a better approach--learning by doing, >> developing 
>> understanding from one's own experience. 
> I agree inquiry based learning is almost always a better approach, > much our first choice. 
> But does that mean teaching by telling is never valid? 
> How can we show through inquiry based learning that a whole field of > scientific knowledge is valid when someone comes along to claim that > it isn't? 
> 
>> The difference between evolution and 
>> creation is in WHY we believe either one--the process that leads to >> that 
>> knowledge. 
> 
> What is the process that leads to knowledge? Isn't that the > scientific process? The process of inquiring, postulating, testing > ideas out? 
> 
>> As John Dewey said about 100 ago: <<Surely if there is any >> knowledge which 
>> is of most worth it is knowledge of the ways by which anything is >> entitled to 
>> be called knowledge instead of being mere opinion or guesswork or >> dogma. 
> Ted, that's precisely why it's worth defending evolution. It has > gone through "the ways by which anything is entitled to be called > knowledge instead of being mere opinion or guesswork or dogma" - the > scientific process. 
> 
> 
>> knowledge never can be learned by itself; it is not information, but >> a mode 
>> of intelligent practice, an habitual disposition of mind. 
> 
>> Only by taking a hand 
>> in the making of knowledge, by transferring guess and opinion into >> belief 
>> authorized by inquiry, does one ever get a knowledge of the method of >> knowing. 
> Dewey is fabulous. That is a great statement. 
>> Because participation in the making of knowledge has been scant, >> because 
>> reliance on the efficacy of acquaintance with certain kinds of facts >> has been 
>> current, science has not accomplished in education what was predicted >> for it.>> Or as 
>> Bill Schmitt said, more simply, in a recent post: <<Very few schools >> are 
>> helping today's students really understand science through >> experiences where they 
>> are personally actively involved in construction of powerful >> knowledge through 
>> authentic interactions with nature.>> This is the area where I believe 
>> science centers can and should lead the way, 
> 
> We are leading the way here. Much to be proud of. 
>> and in doing so make their best 
>> contribution to the evolution-creation controversy. 
> No. Just like you can't learn the periodic table from inquiry on the > museum floor, no one is going to understand the evolution -creation > controversy without statements made about it. 
> 
>> Many centers have worked on 
>> exhibits and programs with the process of science in mind, but it is >> not easy, and 
>> there is still plenty to be done. 
>> 
> Amen. 
> But inquiry based exhibits are not all that science centers do. We do > need to cover issues. We need to help in many ways, not just with > inquiry based learning, the continuation of science passed from > generation to generation. 
>> Ted Ansbacher 
>> Science Services 
>> 29 Byron Ave, White Plains, NY 10606 
>> Office: 914-328-5407 Cell: 914-484-8584 
>> [log in to unmask] www.scienceservs.com 
>> 
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