JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING VOL. 26, NO. 7, PP. 647-648 (1989)

AUTHOR’S RESPONSE

Many of Tamir’s concerns are certainly warranted. In fact, some of the same reservations and qualifications are included in the original article. Tamir quotes the five summary points without considering the context in which they were offered.

One point of concern is Tamir’s reference to the more negative attitudes of students following studies of science. Unfortunately the evidence indicates that most have more negative attitudes following typical science instruction (Yager & Wick, 1966; Penick & Yager, 1982; Yager & Penick, 1984, 1986; Harms, Bybee, & Yager, 1979). More positive attitudes result when science is experienced around current issues, local situations, and relevant topics. Such findings are among the most exciting justifications of STS efforts and often result from courses like ChemCom and the NSTA exemplary programs (Heikkinen, 1988; Bonnstetter, Penick, & Yager, 1983; Yager, 1983a, 1983b; King & Yager, 1985; Penick & Yager, 1985; Yager, 1988).

It is difficult to argue with Tamir concerning his concern that all high school courses should affect the scientific literacy of the students and perform a general education function. Unfortunately, however, typical chemistry and physics (and advanced biology) courses in U.S. schools are offered primarily as preparation for college. Most teachers emphasize the concepts in the textbooks and work for high performances on standardized test scores which measure primarily the degree content is mastered. If all high school courses were designed to increase scientific literacy (as defined by NSTA and Jon Miller in his attentiveness studies), the college preparatory sequence in U.S. schools would be drastically changed. (NSTA, 1982; Miller, J, Suchner, R, & Voelker, A 1980)

REFERENCES

Bonnstetter, R.J., Penick, J.E., & Yager, R.E. (1983). Teachers in Exemplary Programs: How Do They Compare? Washington, D.C.: National Science Teachers Association.

Harms, N., Bybee, R., & Yager, R. (1979). Science and Society: A Review of NAEP Data with Implications for Policies and Research. Interpretative Summary, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Denver, CO.

Heikkinen, H., Ed. (1988). ChemCom: Chemistry in the Community. Dubuque, IA: KendalYHunt.

King, D. & Yager, R.E. (1985). Exemplary science programs stress application over academics. ASCD Curriculum Update, January.

Miller, J.D., Suchner, R.W., & Voelker, A.M. (1980). Citizenship in an Age of Science Changing Attitudes among Young Adults. New York: Permagon Press.

0 1989 by the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CCC 0022-4308/89/070647-02$04.00

648 YAGER

NSTA (1982). An NSTA Position Statement. Washington, D.C.: National Science Teachers Association.

Penick, J.E. & Yager, R.E. (1982). Students hold varying perceptions of classes, content and teachers of school science. The Iowa Curriculum Bulletin, 6(2), 43-46.

Penick, J.E. & Yager, R.E. (1985). Trends in science education: some observations of exemplary programmes in the United States. The Australian -Science Teachers Journal. 31(3), 28-34.

Yager, R.E., Ed. (1983a). Exemplary Programs in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science. Washington, D.C.: National Science Teachers Association.

Yager, R.E., Ed. (1983b). Centers of Excellence: Portrayals of Six Districts. Washington, D.C. : National Science Teachers Association.

Yager, R.E. & Penick, J.E. (1984). What students say about science teaching and science teachers. Science Education. 68(2), 143- 152.

Yager, R.E. & Penick, J.E. (1986). Perceptions of four age groups toward science classes, teachers, and the value of science. Science Education, 70(4), 55-363.

Yager, R.E. & Wick, J.W. (1966). Some aspects of the student’s attitude in science courses. School Science and Mathematics, 66(3), 269-273.

Yager, R.E. (1988). Comparison of perceptions: Exemplary science and random programs. School Science and Mathematics, 88( l), 37-46.

-ROBERT E. YAGER

Manuscript accepted November 17, 1988.