No subject

[Anita Cholewa]

The recent more expanded discussion on teaching names
reminds me of something that is unbelievable
coming from faculty but which seems to be typical of
the current situation.
Recently I was involved in planning a workshop for
elementary science teachers. One of the beginning
exercises will be to take them on a walk through the
neighborhood down to the river, in an observation and
questioning type arrangement.  As we were first planning
this, one of the other faculty types said it would make no
sense taking the people down to the river because they
taught in innercity schools and therefore would never be
able to take their children to the river!  Our nomenclature
discussion brought out this same type of "you're too stupid
to learn this" attitude.
As I said briefly once before, it's time to stop dumbing
down biology!
Anita
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