It’s been almost 17 years, but educators have called for national teaching guidelines for science in schools around the nation — and they want part of the curriculum to focus on climate change and evolution.
The New York Times reported that the guidelines call for the new courses, as outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards report, to start with middle-schoolers. It was 1996 when educators last brought forth a science teaching plan of such nationwide significance, Newser said.
States aren’t required to abide the guidelines, but 26 may, Newser reported.
“In the current situation the state standards are all over the map. It’s a hodgepodge,” said one education official involved in the formation of the standards, as reported by Newser. “We are still in a situation where across the country, basically in every state, students can still graduate from high school and in some cases go through college without learning the basics.”
The Guardian reported that the draft version of the report ignited outrage over the emphasis on climate change and its seeming conclusion that human activity was largely to blame. The final version dramatically pared back this curriculum.
“It’s buried at best,” said one education official of the final report’s inclusion of humans’ impact on climate change, according to Newser.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Energy & Environment
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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