[Taxacom] Fw: botany removed from highschool curriculum in USA]

Tue Oct 6 17:33:28 CDT 2009

If I remember right, this was about AP standards and I thought that stood for Advanced Placement curriculum. This curriculum is not set by Federal, State or local entities. I believe it is an organization somewhat like the folks who make the SAT tests. An article on AP changes -although not addressing the specific concerns expressed here, but on biology - can be found in Science, 18 Sept 09, Vol 325: 1488.

To be cynical, I don't why anyone on the list would be surprised since genes are the thing now in taxonomy, too. 

Herb

> From: schindeld at si.edu
> To: releech at telus.net; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 17:59:55 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Fw: botany removed from highschool curriculum in USA]
> 
> I'm skeptical for a different reason. There is no national curriculum of any kind in the US. There are standards recommended by the National Academy and other groups but they have no basis in legislation, and there are some standardized national tests of achievement. Curriculum content and standards are set at the state or local level in the US.
> 
> David
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Robin Leech
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 5:47 PM
> To: Mark Egger; Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Fw: botany removed from highschool curriculum in USA]
> 
> Thanks, Mark, and others who contacted me off line. The name of the
> Janet Meakin Poor Symposium AT THE Chicago Botanic Garden suggested
> to me that perhaps there are some strong elements of truth in the statement.
> Robin
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark Egger" <m.egger at comcast.net>
> To: <Taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>; "Robin Leech" <releech at telus.net>
> Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 11:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Fw: botany removed from highschool curriculum in USA]
> 
> 
> > Robin and all,
> >
> > As a secondary biology teacher in the Seattle area, I would treat this 
> > pronouncement with a great deal of skepticism. Photosynthesis is very 
> > prominent in all the state and national standards I've seen, and I think 
> > the VAST majority of Biology teachers in the US would rebel in a major 
> > way at such a decision. An understanding of photosynthesis, at least at a 
> > rudimentary level, is essential to core biology, ecology, environmental 
> > science, and even social sciences. I find it very difficult to envision 
> > any such pronouncement as mentioned in the message below being taken 
> > seriously. That being said, it is true that an emphasis on other aspects 
> > of plant biology have declined in the public schools in the last decade 
> > or two, with traditional "surveys of the kingdoms" being replaced by new 
> > content in molecular biology, genetics, and, at least in the state of 
> > Washington, evolution! I try to build in as much botany as I can, but the 
> > mandated curricula are pretty weak in terms of botany beyond 
> > photosynthesis, it's true...
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > On Oct 5, 2009, at 9:09 PM, Robin Leech wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Taxacomers,
> >> This was sent to me today by a botanist friend in Ontario.
> >> Robin
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: Freek Vrugtman
> >> To: Robin Leech
> >> Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 6:38 PM
> >> Subject: [Fwd: botany removed from highschool curriculum in USA]
> >>
> >>
> >> Robin,
> >> Just received
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> One of the items discussed at the Janet Meakin Poor Symposium at Chicago 
> >> Botanic Garden on Friday is the just-announced removal of botany and 
> >> photosynthesis, in their entireties, from the national senior year high 
> >> school biology curriculum in the USA. Apparently whoever (or whatever) 
> >> makes decisions like that feels there is too much in genetics, molecular 
> >> biology and medicine that needs to be covered to include plants, too.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Ah well, who needs to know the basics.
> >>
> >> Freek
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.1.0.447)
> >> Database version: 6.13410
> >> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
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> >>
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> 
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