SABASTIAN PALPATINE

Constantly seeking knowledge. Nosce Te Ipsum

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Member Since: 7/2008 Last Seen: 5/02/2012

High school biology teachers reluctant to endorse evolution in class

Seeded on Wed Feb 2, 2011 2:12 PM EST

science, evolution, biology, creationism, intelligent-design, darwin

Seeded by Sabastian Palpatine

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The researchers examined data from the National Survey of High School Biology Teachers, a representative sample of 926 public high school biology instructors. They found only about 28 percent of those teachers consistently implement National Research Council recommendations calling for introduction of evidence that evolution occurred, and craft lesson plans with evolution as a unifying theme linking disparate topics in biology.

In contrast, Berkman and Plutzer found that about 13 percent of biology teachers "explicitly advocate creationism or intelligent design by spending at least one hour of class time presenting it in a positive light." Many of these teachers typically rejected the possibility that scientific methods can shed light on the origin of the species, and considered both evolution and creationism as belief systems that cannot be fully proven or discredited.

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Public Discussion (18)

Sabastian Palpatine

Berkman and Plutzer dubbed the remaining teachers the "cautious 60 percent," who are neither strong advocates for evolutionary biology nor explicit endorsers of nonscientific alternatives. "Our data show that these teachers understandably want to avoid controversy," they said.

If I were a high school science teacher I'd be with the "cautious 60 percent".

The researchers found these teachers commonly use one or more of three strategies to avoid controversy. Some teach evolutionary biology as if it applies only to molecular biology, ignoring an opportunity to impart a rich understanding of the diversity of species and evidence that one species gives rise to others.

Using a second strategy, some teachers rationalize the teaching of evolution by referring to high-stakes examinations. These teachers "tell students it does not matter if they really 'believe' in evolution, so long as they know it for the test," Berkman and Plutzer said.

Finally, many teachers expose their students to all positions, scientific and otherwise, and let them make up their own minds. This is unfortunate, the researchers said, because "this approach tells students that well established concepts can be debated in the same way we debate personal opinions."

I've been provided with all of the info on biological evolution, I.D. and creationism. After weighing all of the evidence I think that evolution provides the best evidence. Why can't everyone else exercise the same freedom to chose that I have? I think that our children would surprise most of us when you loosen your grip, give them the information and let them choose.

"We don't need no education. We don't need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the class room. Teachers, leave them kids alone!" -Pink Floyd

;-)

#1 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 2:38 PM EST

Baron von Steuben

Science should be taught in science class. Creationism is not science, evolution is science. Evolution is even observable in bacteria over a certain period. For example, in a population of bacteria, a certain antibiotic is used. Numbers of those bacteria die off, however a small selection of that population has a genotype mutation that makes it immune. The non-immune die off and the immune propagate. There in less than 48 hours is fully observable evolution.

6 votes

#1.1 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 3:45 PM EST

katrix

Why can't everyone else exercise the same freedom to chose that I have?

Science teachers are required to teach science, and as Baron pointed out, creationism is not science. The students can learn about that in Sunday school if they want. Any science teacher who doesn't understand why evolution is science, and creationism isn't - should be fired as obviously too ignorant of science to be qualified.

2 votes

#1.2 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:03 PM EST

Sabastian Palpatine

I'd say that in one short comment you've made a very convincing argument for biological evolution. Hard evidence doesn't need to be forced on anyone as it speaks for itself.

BTW, maybe you should look into teaching (if you're not a teacher already)?

2 votes

#1.3 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:03 PM EST

Baron von Steuben

Not so much. I'm a computer scientist, who happened to work a contract at the department of health and environmental control. I get huge exposure to math and technology in my field and my good fortune at working in a scientific environment gave me a good bit of exposure to that as well.

#1.4 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:41 PM EST

Sebbydad

I can understand the position the teachers are in, if a parent complains they know they will recieve no support from the school district or state.

1 vote

#1.5 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 6:26 PM EST

cjcold

When it comes down to it, aren't we all teachers? Those paid to teach science, however, should leave idiology and religion at home.

2 votes

#1.6 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 8:35 AM EST

Michael in S J

Find a backbone for the 60% and fire the 17% who are idiots.

#1.7 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 9:09 PM EST

PixelatedUniverse

This would explain why they are still high school teachers and not college professors.

1 vote

#2 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 3:35 PM EST

Baron von Steuben

The best explanation would likely be that high school science teachers graduated with degrees in education, not science. That is where the real problem is. The teachers are no more knowledgeable on the subject than there students are.

#2.1 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 3:46 PM EST

Sebbydad

Any story that cites a survey or poll but doesn't supply links to the full results and methodology is suspect in my book. I want to see what questions were asked, who and where did the respondents come from and who actually conducted the survey.

1 vote

#3 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 3:46 PM EST

Baron von Steuben

It's a good question, but any reluctance for a science teacher to teach science is unacceptable in my book.

5 votes

#3.1 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 3:47 PM EST

Sebbydad

I agree, but it is a job and they have to follow what their principal tells them and avoid compaints from parents.

1 vote

#3.2 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 6:27 PM EST

jhoopy56

The evidence supporting the ToE is really quite incontrovertible -- especially when one examines the genetic details. Vestigial biological componentry and common life chemistry all point to shared biological origin and evolution of function -- and DNA inheritance and analysis of genetic distances provides the underpinning validation of what are, of themselves, compelling macro-observations (and what drove Darwin to his startling observation on the fluid nature of species in the first place).

The NCSE provides instructional guidelines for teaching evolution in public schools and ought to enjoy vigorous, mandatory endorsement and broad exploitation by public science educators. A failure to do so ought to be construed as abrogation of their contract to professionally instruct the students in their charge.

As the good Baron and katrix indicate, if a science teacher cannot teach biology, they ought to recuse themselves from the profession and teach Sunday school classes instead. No excuses, no "cautious 60 percent". Anything less than best effort at imparting the lessons of evolution amounts to fraud and is intolerable...

#4 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:36 PM EST

Sabastian Palpatine

In a country where we are experiencing a shortage of public school teachers with most of them being underpaid good luck enforcing that.

#4.1 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 5:29 PM EST

jhoopy56

good luck enforcing that.

Yeah, I get that. But it is bankrupt rationale to allow those who shirk their instructional obligations to keep their jobs and intellectually shortchange (or impair) their students. The NCSE specifically provides a knowledge backstop for the teachers charged with this task and there is precious little excuse for doing the job badly -- especially when part of the opportunity cost involves promotion of creationism as some sort of biological science imperative...

#4.2 - Thu Feb 3, 2011 12:32 PM EST

paul-662506

and we wonder why the greatest country the world has ever known is falling woefully behind in the sciences...congratulations to all who actively promote the dumbing down of the United States.

and sabastian makes an excellent point...if we paid our elementary and HS teachers commensurate with their responsibilities to our society, we'd get people who aren't afraid to stand up to these morons.

1 vote

#5 - Wed Feb 2, 2011 11:45 PM EST

cjcold

One of the main reasons I retired from being a paramedic and went back to school was that the job paid less than a living wage. It's no wonder that the best and brightest don't gravitate to the most important, but lowest paying, occupations. I should have gone pro..

1 vote

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