Stan Metzenberg offers a critical analysis of the draft "Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards," which are for pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 and introductory high school courses. Metzenberg claims that the document reveals significant, unacceptable gaps in science content, as well as some notable errors and…

Eighty-eight secondary school biology textbooks published between 1900 and 1968 were examined to determine the extent that forty-four topics related to the concept of evolution were emphasized. Prior to 1960 there was a cursory, non-controversial treatment, with a gradual increasing emphasis up to 1950. In the 1950's this trend reversed slightly.…

Analysis of ten biology textbooks published in the 1970's revealed a de-emphasis in evolution as compared to the 1960's in the overall coverage of 44 topics concerned with evolution in these textbooks. Also, in certain textbooks the emphasis on selected topics concerned with evolution was drastically reduced or eliminated. Many changes in wording…

Determined coverage given to 44 topics related to the study of evolution in 105 high school biology textbooks published between 1900 and 1983. Considers trends in popular and Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) textbooks, coverage of evolution in first editions, coverage of creationism, chapter titles and placement, and other areas. (JN)

Ninety-three secondary school biology textbooks, identified in the appendix bibliography, were analyzed to determine the extent of emphasis of 44 topics concerned with the study of evolution. (HM)

Evolution by natural selection provides the conceptual framework upon which much of modern biology is based: therefore understanding core ideas about biological evolution is an essential part of scientific literacy. Nonetheless, research repeatedly shows that high school and college students have difficulties understanding the notion of natural…

Perspectives on contemporary creationism are offered and the effects of that movement on public education are examined in this collection of articles. Six papers address concerns related to: (1) the detrimental impact of creationism on the teaching of science and on the understanding of the natural sciences; (2) efforts in confronting creation…

"Biological identity" is the result of interactions between the environment and the genome. These interactions, however, were not taught before 2001. In the French syllabus for 16-year-old students, two of the five sections on genetics deal with biological identity. We analysed the texts and images of the chapters relating to these two…