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The AIP Governing Board approved the release of the following statement by one of its units, the Society of Physics Students, in the fall of 1999:A statement of the Society of Physics Students regarding science education standards In a recent decision, the Kansas State Board of Education
removed biological and cosmological evolution from its state
Science Education Standards,
thereby rejecting the consensus of a committee of experienced Kansas
science teachers.
Ideas about the structure and evolution of the universe, including
Earth and its life forms, are unifying concepts in science. The
development of
students'
informed views about these concepts is essential to knowledge of
science. These concepts should therefore be included as a part
of science frameworks
and curricula for all students. The Society of Physics Students
(SPS) recognizes that decisions about science education standards are
the
purview of state
and local authorities; however, the position of SPS is that such
decisions should involve education experience and scientific
expertise, and be
based on the body of research in science, pedagogy, and cognitive
development. SPS
encourages science educators and scientists to participate in the
development of science education standards by involving themselves
in the decision-making
processes of state and local school boards. |
