Is science central to education in Florida? And, if not, should it be? – Sentinel School Zone – Orlando Sentinel

Is science central to education in Florida? And, if not, should it be? – Sentinel School Zone – Orlando Sentinel

Main | Class size: Central FL districts look to lawmakers, suggest solutions » Is science central to education in Florida? And, if not, should it be? Florida Education, Leslie Postal, Science education — posted by lesliepostal on November, 8 2010 4:23 PM Discuss This: Comments(0) | Add to del.icio.us | Digg it Paul Cottle, an FSU physics professor, is, as we’ve noted before, on a mission to improve k-12 science education in Florida. He served on the state’s science standards committee – the one that devised the education blueprint that generated so much controversy because of evolution — has written lots about the need for better science lessons (in op-ed pieces for newspapers and in letters to lawmakers) and has a blog on the same topic. Cottle’s newest effort is Science is Central. This is a drive to make sure Florida doesn’t retreat from new legislation passed last year (the law that requires student take chemistry or physics in high school) and, in fact, does more to make sure all Florida students get a well-rounded science education. He is worried that the Florida School Boards Association and other educators want to revise the just-passed graduation requirements, so that schools have more flexibility to implement the new math and science course rules. Here is the gist of the new push: “The life sciences, physical sciences, Earth sciences and space sciences must be central in the curricula of Florida’s elementary, middle and high schools.”