Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Teachers adjust to changes in evolution standards Asked how he teaches evolution, Derfelt said: “I follow state guidelines.”
To do otherwise wouldn’t make sense, he said, because the state assessments taken by pupils are based on the state standards. The results of the state assessments in turn are important in determining whether a school building or district meets adequate yearly progress under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Jim Foresman teaches biology and advanced genetics at Pittsburg High School and is a biotechnology instructor at the Greenbush Education Service Center. Despite the publicity, he said, the standards haven’t changed much over the years. “It certainly grabs headlines, then dies back down and it’s business as usual,” Foresman said. He also said the changing standards haven’t caused him any problems. “It’s not frustrating personally,” Foresman said. “People in other states are looking at us like, ‘What now?’” He said he has some ideas about why evolution remains controversial. “I think it’s a misunderstanding by a lot of people about what a theory is,” Foresman said. He said “theory” has a different meaning in the scientific community than it does in the general population. “It’s a well-substantiated explanation,” Foresman said of scientific theories, including evolution. “As with anything in science, it can change, but certainly the foundation is pretty well intact.” Macroevolution An “Understanding Evolution” Web site, evolution.berkeley.edu, maintained by the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education, defines macroevolution as evolution above that of the species level, encompassing the grandest trends in evolution. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Home section
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Photographer documents struggle with cystic fibrosis w/ slide show and link to National Transplant Assistance Fund page
Joplin’s Seventh Street to be closed until 5 p.m.
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
