In Arizona at this time, a new bill is being proposed that is intended to undermine valid scientific education in public schools. The name of the bill is SB 1213. This bill is designed to specifically allow teachers in k-12 public education to use their own discretion in discussing issues such as Global Warming and Evolution. This would mean that at the discretion of high school instructors, Creationism, or Intelligent Design, in whatever form they choose, may be put forth as a valid scientific theory. Intelligent Design and Creationism are not scientific theories. They are theories, but to categorize them accurately they would be called, "Myths" or "Religious ideologies" not scientific theories. The scientific method is adhered to in developing scientific theories, and has been used in the development of modern theories for evolution, astrophysics, and global warming, as well as in all other fields of recognized science.
The scientific method can be summed up in a few specific steps: Ask or define a question, do back ground research (to understand what other studies may have been done, what other hypothesis may have been reach about your subject, and what observations people have made about your subject), construct a hypothesis, devise an experiment that is relevant to your hypothesis, test your hypothesis using your experiment, analyze your data and draw a conclusion (ex. this experiment did not give me conclusive results to support my hypothesis), communicate your result (so that other people can evaluate your methods, provide constructive criticism, and possibly repeat the process of your experiment to attempt to replicate your result.) To understand more about how the scientific method works, people are encouraged to do their own research, and to follow the link on "science buddies" at the bottom of this page.
Additionally, a legitimate scientific theory must be published in a recognize scientific journal. This is so that it can be subjected to peer review, which means that the conditions of experimentation and testing can replicated by other scientists to verify the result. It is also necessary that the hypothesis put forward in experimentation, in the attempt to form a theory, be something that is falsifiable. This means, the hypothesis must be something that can be proven wrong. These are the concepts we should be teaching to our k-12 science students, not that religious, new-age, or conservative social myths can be called "science." Is it any wonder with wide spread attitudes like these, that challenge the very basis of modern science, that the United States is ranking so low in science, engineering, physics, astrophysics, biology, and other scientific feilds? Most of the innovation that our modern technology revolves around is dependent upon the scientific method and legitimate scientific processes.
How can we encourage people to think this way while simultaneously undermining the very basis of science as field by suggesting that stories that are cultural in nature are in some way equal in factual viability when compared to the products of rigorous scientific study? What implications might this hold for the medical community, which also relies heavily on rigorous scientific study? I mean, that's the kind of thinking use by people who offer blessed water, potions, incantations, or prayers for the purpose of curing a life-threatening illness in a non-believer? I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to take my antibiotics. Why? Because years and years of rigorous scientific study can show us not only why, but how this treatment effects the source of the illness, fighting it, counter-acting it, and hopefully eliminating it.
This kind of passionate misinformation is not only unrealistic, but also a disadvantage for our society, and potentially dangerous to the health and safety of individuals. As an individual who hopes to become a K-12 teacher one day, I hope I do not encounter a school philosophy which embraces these ideologies in my work. Even though I intend to become an English teacher, I would be heart broken to know my students were receiving this kind of cultural indoctrination from an institution that should be providing them with information that will be useful to them in their lives and future careers. How does it benefit students to teach them that religious ideologies are the same as scientific study? Public schools are supposed to be secular settings, where any one of any or no religious belief can go to learn the (hopefully) most up-to-date general knowledge and research of the time.
These are websites I referred to for my story:
http://www.fsteiger.com/theory.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml
http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/az-bill-would-let-teachers-dismiss-global-warming/article_4bec9422-44b6-5b49-b0da-78513c959433.html
The scientific method can be summed up in a few specific steps: Ask or define a question, do back ground research (to understand what other studies may have been done, what other hypothesis may have been reach about your subject, and what observations people have made about your subject), construct a hypothesis, devise an experiment that is relevant to your hypothesis, test your hypothesis using your experiment, analyze your data and draw a conclusion (ex. this experiment did not give me conclusive results to support my hypothesis), communicate your result (so that other people can evaluate your methods, provide constructive criticism, and possibly repeat the process of your experiment to attempt to replicate your result.) To understand more about how the scientific method works, people are encouraged to do their own research, and to follow the link on "science buddies" at the bottom of this page.
Additionally, a legitimate scientific theory must be published in a recognize scientific journal. This is so that it can be subjected to peer review, which means that the conditions of experimentation and testing can replicated by other scientists to verify the result. It is also necessary that the hypothesis put forward in experimentation, in the attempt to form a theory, be something that is falsifiable. This means, the hypothesis must be something that can be proven wrong. These are the concepts we should be teaching to our k-12 science students, not that religious, new-age, or conservative social myths can be called "science." Is it any wonder with wide spread attitudes like these, that challenge the very basis of modern science, that the United States is ranking so low in science, engineering, physics, astrophysics, biology, and other scientific feilds? Most of the innovation that our modern technology revolves around is dependent upon the scientific method and legitimate scientific processes.
How can we encourage people to think this way while simultaneously undermining the very basis of science as field by suggesting that stories that are cultural in nature are in some way equal in factual viability when compared to the products of rigorous scientific study? What implications might this hold for the medical community, which also relies heavily on rigorous scientific study? I mean, that's the kind of thinking use by people who offer blessed water, potions, incantations, or prayers for the purpose of curing a life-threatening illness in a non-believer? I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to take my antibiotics. Why? Because years and years of rigorous scientific study can show us not only why, but how this treatment effects the source of the illness, fighting it, counter-acting it, and hopefully eliminating it.
This kind of passionate misinformation is not only unrealistic, but also a disadvantage for our society, and potentially dangerous to the health and safety of individuals. As an individual who hopes to become a K-12 teacher one day, I hope I do not encounter a school philosophy which embraces these ideologies in my work. Even though I intend to become an English teacher, I would be heart broken to know my students were receiving this kind of cultural indoctrination from an institution that should be providing them with information that will be useful to them in their lives and future careers. How does it benefit students to teach them that religious ideologies are the same as scientific study? Public schools are supposed to be secular settings, where any one of any or no religious belief can go to learn the (hopefully) most up-to-date general knowledge and research of the time.
These are websites I referred to for my story:
http://www.fsteiger.com/theory.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml
http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/az-bill-would-let-teachers-dismiss-global-warming/article_4bec9422-44b6-5b49-b0da-78513c959433.html
Hey! What an important post. I had no idea that this bill was being considered, but I agree with you. We can't have students who think critically if teachers get to choose what science is. Thanks so much for posting this! Kimberly
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