Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The 2005 Paul F-Brandwein Lecture: Is Our Past Our Future? Thoughts on the Next 50 Years of Science Education Reform in the Light of Judgments on the Past 50 Years

  • Published:
Journal of Science Education and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As I look back at K-12 science education in post-World War II America, it strikes me that surprisingly little progress has been made. This disappointing outcome cannot be due to a lack of effort, for in the last half-century our investment in science education reform—human and financial—has been substantial. In this essay, I focus first on some of our failures (as I see them) of the last 50 years, and speculate on why we were not more successful. With that in mind, I then propose a reform agenda for the next 50 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (1989). Science for All Americans, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993). Benchmarks for Science Literacy, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science. (1997). Resources for Science Literacy, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (2000). Designs for Science Literacy, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cremin, L. (1990). Popular Education and its Discontents, Harper & Row, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson, S. L., Stake, R. E., Weiss, I. R., et al. (1978). The Status of Pre-College Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies Educational Practices in U.S. Schools: An Overview and Summaries of Three Studies, GPO, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (1991). Toward High and Rigorous Standards for the Teaching Profession: Initial Policies and Perspectives of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, 3rd edition, NBPTS, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983). A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Education Reform, GPO, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (1989). Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, NCTM, Reston, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (1996). National Science Education Standards, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Science Foundation & the U.S. Department of Education (1980). Science & Engineering Education for the 1980s and Beyond, GPO, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Science Teachers Association (1992). NSTA Standards for Teacher Certification, NSTA, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, F. J., Holton, G., and Watson, F. G. (1970). Project Physics, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyson-Bernstein, H. (1988). America's Textbook Fiasco: A Conspiracy of Good Intentions, Council for Basic Education, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. James Rutherford.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rutherford, F.J. The 2005 Paul F-Brandwein Lecture: Is Our Past Our Future? Thoughts on the Next 50 Years of Science Education Reform in the Light of Judgments on the Past 50 Years. J Sci Educ Technol 14, 367–386 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-005-8082-3

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-005-8082-3

Key Words

Navigation