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I find education historian, David Tyack's, discussion of the history of evolution instruction as it relates to law and the public schools to be fascinating. While it might not move the conversation forward, it helps to be aware of the historical underpinnings of this debate.
You can access this on Google books using the link below. Pages 162-167 are most relevant to this discussion. This link will take you to page 166. Click on it and scroll up to page 162.
http://books.google.com/books?id=dmxKjNkiGP8C&lpg=PP1&dq=david%20tyack&pg=PA162#v=onepage&q=evolution&f=false
Best,
Kristin
--
Kristin M. Larsen
Doctoral Student, Reading/Writing/Literacy
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
________________________________________
From: Informal Science Education Network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Martin Weiss [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 12:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Only 28% of surveyed teachers teach evolution, AGAIN.
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Bill Nye on teaching Evolution, from the National Center for Science
Education
BILL NYE ON TEACHING EVOLUTION
Prompted by Michael B. Berkman and Eric Plutzer's recent column in
Science deploring "a pervasive reluctance of teachers to forthrightly
explain evolutionary biology," Popular Mechanics asked Bill Nye for
his reaction. "It's horrible," Nye replied.
He explained, "Science is the key to our future, and if you don't
believe in science, then you're holding everybody back. And it's fine
if you as an adult want to run around pretending or claiming that you
don't believe in evolution, but if we educate a generation of people
who don't believe in science, that's a recipe for disaster. ... The
main idea in all of biology is evolution. To not teach it to our young
people is wrong."
Nye was particularly concerned with the characterization of evolution
as "just a theory," arguing, "People make flu vaccinations that stop
people from getting sick. Farmers raise crops with science; they
hybridize them and make them better with every generation. That's all
evolution. Evolution is a theory, and it's a theory that you can test.
We've tested evolution in many ways. You can't present good evidence
that says evolution is not a fact. "
A Supporter of NCSE, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" was the host of the
popular science education television programs Bill Nye the Science Guy
-- which won eighteen Emmys -- and The Eyes of Nye; he is currently
the executive director of the Planetary Society, the world's large
space interest organization.
For the Popular Mechanics interview of Nye, visit:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/evolution-classroom-bill-nye-science-education
For NCSE's coverage of the Berkman and Plutzer column, visit:
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/too-many-teachers-ignore-evolution-006454
>>
>>
> --
> –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
> Martin Weiss, PhD
> Science Interpretation, Consultant
> New York Hall of Science
> mweiss at nyscience.org
> 347-460-1858
>
>
--
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Martin Weiss, PhD
Science Interpretation, Consultant
New York Hall of Science
mweiss at nyscience.org
347-460-1858
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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