Re: Challenges to teaching biology

> Kids challenging their teachers -- how awful! How can any learning
> happen unless the kids are a bunch of compliant mindless blobs?
> OK, so they challenged the teacher based on some YEC stuff. At
> least they aren't afraid to ask, challenge, debate, and question
> orthodoxy. I wish they were making challenges on stronger grounds,
> but at least they're rising above the usual apathetic high school
> crowds. And I'm pretty sure a good teacher can handle it, and even
> use it for good pedantic purposes.
>

Unfortunately, what is happening is not the challenging of ideas or
critical thinking. What is occurring is disruptive student behavior
and the refusal to hear arguments. They are challenging the teacher
not to learn, but to keep from learning. As the article indicates,
some students go to the extent of walking out of class or putting
their heads on the desk.

Again, I know this teacher personally. He is one of the best
teachers in the state (recipient of several state teaching awards)
who encourages active learning and wants his students to understand
science not as a list of "facts" but as a way of understanding the
world. It is sad when a teacher of his calliber faces this much
frustration in his teaching.

Keith
Received on Mon Apr 3 10:52:12 2006