An interesting tangent to this discussion, and I would like to take it a bit farther afield. For me the important aspect of studying science is not the collection of facts that one is exposed to, but rather a way of seeing the world and learning to interpret one's own observations. Subjects where one can actually see things that lead to scientific conclusions are ideal from this point of view, and students can see ecology in the field and also see lots of informative programs on TV. I think they get more out of ecology than, say genetics, despite the newsworthy importance of genetics.
It is a delight to show people something that has been before them all their lives that they have never seen. My favourite experience with this was actually in geology, when I took my kids to a crowded beach below a cliff and at one point showed them some vertical strata and asked them to try to imagine what it must have taken to tilt those stones 90 degrees. Many of the people who were near us overheard me, and the astonishment on their faces when they realised what had happened there was one of my greatest rewards for studying science. Bill Silvert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Esat Atikkan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 2:32 PM Subject: Why is ecology taught at the HS > Interesting point to question offering at the HS level. > I teach a variety of ecology - mar bio courses at a local community > college and can add an observation - students who have had an enviro biol > or ecology course at HS are better equipped to become part of the 'field > ecology' course and related courses. > The conclusion may not be statistically significant, but the correlation > has been obvious. > Esat Atikkan > > > E. Esat Atikkan, Ph.D. > Adj. Prof., Biol. > Montgomery College, Rockville > 51 Manakee St > Rockville, MD 20850, USA > > Malcolm McCallum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Try using one of the environmental science texts like Miller. Do not use > Molles, it is terrible. Having said this, I question why ecology is being > offered in a highschool. Few community colleges offer this selection, let > alone highschools. Many highschools these days are broadening their > curricula. Meanwhile, students have problems reading, writing, and don't > understand the basic biology, chemistry, or other electives. This doesn't > mean you should not offer it, just something to consider. > > > Something > > On Sun, September 23, 2007 10:52 am, Beth Callaghan wrote: >> Anyone have any recommendations on an ecology text suitable for grades >> 9-12? thanks. >> >> Beth Callaghan >> Easthampton High School >> Easthampton, MA >> > > > Malcolm L. McCallum > Assistant Professor of Biology > Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology > http://www.herpconbio.org > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who > knows. > Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. > >
