Re: Glen Kuban's light relief and NBC

From
Date

>My question and challenge to you professional educators out there is =
>"How do we demonstrate, teach, or introduce legitimate science and =
>scientific investigation to our youth?"

We need to get out there and make contact! A few years ago I was involved
with a company that took a touring exhibition of dinosaur fossil replicas
and a life-sized inflatable dinosaur around to primary schools. Very in
every school there would be at least one kid who wanted to be a
palaeontologist when they grew up and, for that day, the class nerd was the
school hero as they would talk to me about dinosaurs and fossils. It was
very touching because, 20-odd years ago, that was me. I doubt than more
than one or two of those kids will grow up to be palaeontologists, but the
fact that they had a scientist role model visit their school and talk about
dinosaurs and fossils must have provided a more constructive experience
than the endless stream of sports role models that are continually thrust
at our kids.

Although the program I was involved with was a private company, they did
their best to get their technical contect correct and present an experience
that was both scientifically and educationally benificial. Dinosaurs and
fossils are a magic formula for primary school education; they capture kids
attention and, once you have that, you can teach them anything. We went to
great lengths to ensure that our presentation could be linked into as many
cross curicular activities as possible. And all this for a couple of bucks
a head.

Such activities are a bridge head into promoting science as both a school
study and as a profession. There needs to be follow up activities such as
keeping a close eye on school curicula and lobbying school boards and
education departments. Make no mistake, this is our responsibility.

By comparison, here in Australia the creationsits have a Creation Bus that
travels the counrty giving free lectures in their purile bildge. Shouldn't
we be at least as organised and active as they are?

Cheers, Paul

pwillis@ozemail.com.au