I agree. It is sad to see this move made by such a historic and
prestigious scientific society. BUT, it strikes me that this can be
understood in the context of the folk theory of science teaching
practiced so widely and thoroughly. The folk theory goes like this:

Science teaching is the presentation of the established canon by
approved methods for the benefit of the deserving.

Every failure of science education and destructive science education
policy can be traced back to this folk theory. Sadly the evidence of
these failures and destructive policies is legion. Much of the
evidence has been revealed in peer reviewed settings for at least the
last 40 years in science education research literature.

Unfortunately, there have been 'successes.' In particular we have
done a remarkably successful job at entrenching the folk theory and
its implications as to the nature of scientific knowledge and how it
is 'learned,' such that the folk theory is like the air we breathe.
Most simply are unaware of it. Alternatives do not exist in their
minds.

Dewey

On Sep 17, 2008, at 1:49 AM, shiyammy wrote:

> Very sad to hear what RS has asked Prof Reiss to do.
> This opportunity should be used as a moment of self-appraisal as
> far as
> propogation of scientific ideas goes.
> All scientists have an obligation to convey their findings(not only
> about evolution) to the public. There is one effective way(teachers,
> cognitive psychologists and many man-on-the-street know) how this can
> be done: MAKING BRIDGES between new knowledge and old knowledge.
> Right now one major area is educating all human beings on sustainable
> environment - we have to ensure the learning/teaching bridges have no
> gaps!
>
>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr., Ph. D. Phone: (208)426-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)426-3775
Department of Physics/MCF421/418 Fax: (208)426-4330
Boise State University ddykstra@...
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper: GHB, Uilleann
<http://www.boisestate.edu/physics/Dykstra/Dyks.html>

"The problem in science is you never get to see the yak!"
--D. Dykstra, Science for Monks Project, 2006.

"...a physics major has to be trained to use today's physics whereas
a physics teacher has to be trained to see a development of physical
theories in his students' minds." -- H. Niedderer in
"International Conference on Physics Teachers' Education Proceedings"
Dortmund: University of Dortmund, p. 151, 1992.

"It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of
instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of
inquiry; for
this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in
need of
freedom; without this the plant goes to wreck and ruin without fail."
--A.
Einstein in "Autobiographical Notes," 1949.

"Now there are two theorems that form together the cardinal hinge on
which the whole structure of physical science turns. These theorems
are: (1) THERE IS A REAL OUTER WORLD WHICH EXISTS
INDEPENDENTLY OF OUR ACT OF KNOWING, and, (2) THE REAL
OUTER WORLD IS NOT DIRECTLY KNOWABLE." --M. Planck in
"Where Is Science Going?," 1932. (EMPHASIS in the original)

"As a result of modern research in physics, the ambition and hope,
still cherished by most authorities of the last century, that physical
science could offer a photographic picture and true image of reality
had to be abandoned." --M. Jammer in "Concepts of Force," 1957.

"If what we regard as real depends on our theory, how can we make
reality the basis of our philosophy? ...But we cannot distinguish
what is real about the universe without a theory...it makes no sense
to ask if it corresponds to reality, because we do not know what
reality is independent of a theory."--S. Hawking in "Black Holes
and Baby Universes" 1993.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++





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