ERIC Number: EJ1164218
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Nov
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1089-9995
EISSN: N/A
It's Time to Stand up for Earth Science
Schaffer, Dane L.
Journal of Geoscience Education, v60 n4 p291-294 Nov 2012
This commentary paper focuses upon the loss of respect for Earth Sciences on the part of many school districts across the United States. Too many Earth Science teachers are uncertified to teach Earth Science, or hold certificates to teach the subject merely because they took a test. The Earth Sciences have faced this problem for many years (Nuhfer, 1990). In 1996, the National Science Education Standards (National Resource Council) put Earth Science on equal footing with both the life and physical sciences, but after middle school, many high school students do not even have a chance to take an Earth Science course because their schools do not deem Earth Science as worthy or even as a necessary science. This is echoed by many colleges and universities when they do not accept Earth Science as a science unit for entrance. This must change! With the Next Generation Science Standards (Achieve, 2012) on the horizon, educators from kindergarten to the university level must make a strategic effort to put Earth Science back up upon a pedestal with sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics--not just in a few states, but in all states!
Descriptors: Earth Science, Science Instruction, Scientific Literacy, Science Teachers, Science Curriculum, Secondary School Teachers, Secondary School Science, Misconceptions
National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Carleton College W-SERC, One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057. Tel: 540-568-6675; Fax: 540-568-8058; e-mail: jge@jmu.edu; Website: http://nagt-jge.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Missouri; New York
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: New York State Regents Examinations
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A