In the context of science fairs, Bernard Cleyet wrote:
I was a judge yesterday and, as youall can imagine, it was unpleasant ...
I can imagine a very unpleasant science fair, but I can also imagine
the opposite. I've seen both.
I've seen some spectacularly kooky notions about the nature of science
promulgated as part of the science-fair instructions, but in each case
the problem originated locally, sometimes from the local fair officials,
but more often from individual teachers who _imagined_ that a certain
approach would be rewarded, and instructed their students accordingly.
I've seen the requirements as formulated by some of the national
fair-sponsoring organizations, and they seem reasonable. I've seen
nothing at the national level that requires or in any way supports
kooky notions about the nature of science.
I conclude that this is a *local* problem and needs to be addressed
locally, by the local organizers and judges. Get the word out that
kooky notions of "the scientific method" will not be rewarded.