SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR A PLURALIST S - REISS M J

An exploration of how a school science education should be provided so that it is appropriate for the entire school population. It argues that all too often the model of science held in school science education, the way science is taught and the specific content matter learned, are too narrow in outlook. The consequences of a narrow, male, Western view of school science are far-reaching and of two main sorts. Firstly, many pupils feel alienated from school science and drop it once they can. Secondly, the minority that continue (beyond the years in which it is compulsory) then learn an impoverished form of science.;A valid science education for a pluralist society will encourage and permit greater equality of standing between science as carried out and perceived by different cultural, ethnic, gender, class, ability and religious groups. "Science Education for a Pluralist Society" looks at how such a science education could be taught across the 5 to 16 age range. There are chapters on the nature of science, the design of science curricula, organizing and running science departments, and teaching controversial issues in science. In addition, there is a wealth of bibliographic material on the contributions by women, black people and other minorities to biology, chemistry and physics. Throughout the book there are suggestions as to how specific topics might be taught to pupils and students of varous ages.;The book is aimed at all those interested in science education and its future, including classroom teachers, teacher educators, advisors, policy-makers and trainee teachers.