As we all know, President Obama told the story that his daughter knocked on the bathroom door while he was shaving, and asked him, “Have you plugged the hole yet, Daddy?”
As science teachers we are reminded that this question is the kind of question our youth asks about important issues that face us today. In today’s post on the New York Times, Thomas Friedman uses Malia’s comment suggest that this is the time to talk about energy futures.… Read more
Yes, the U.S. Congress did pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454), but within Congress—in the House—there was clear evidence of “scientific illiteracy.” And no, it was not the kind of thinking that we as science teachers advocate. It turns out that one of the U.S. Representatives from Georgia, Paul Broun, who represents citizens of Georgia in Congressional District 10 (in the Athens, GA area) appears to advocate illiteracy.… Read more
Teaching students about the Earth’s energy future is an important goal of science education. In the news these days is the debate (because of $4+ gas in the US) about off shore drilling, energy independence (an oxymoron?), wind and other alternative energies. How should these ideas be approached with students? What questions should students raise to explore these ideas? What follows are some comments about ideas by T.… Read more
In an interview on late-night television, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. outlined an energy manifesto for the next President of the United States. His comments, which were based on an article he published in Vanity Fair provide the nucleus for an potential STS investigation for our students. Indeed, if carried out in the early Fall semester, the investigation would enable students to participate in an important aspect of the Presidential Election.… Read more
The Art of Teaching Science is the personal blog of Jack Hassard. I am a writer, a former high school science teacher and Professor Emeritus of Science Education, Georgia State University. The blog reflects my opinions on science education and issues related to educational reform from a progressive science and education philosophy.
