Re: Nature of Science (NOS)

[Larry Cartwright <exit60@CABLESPEED.COM>]

Joseph Bellina wrote:
> I'd like to make an arguement for using the "SCIENTIFIC METHOD" with young
> children...though I'm not sure what I would define as young.  The SM thing
> began as we know in a time when decisions were made not on the basis of
> reason for the most part.  Seems to me that it is still a good place to
> start if we are going to teach logical thinking.

I believe that we need to be verrrrrry careful what we foist off on the
young.  It is well documented that what a very young child learns is
internalized and retained for a very long time in one way or another,
for better or worse.  IMHO, representing any fiction as truth to even
the youngest of children is an act of disrespect.

I continue to be amazed at the level of intellectual sophistication
which even quite young children can process, appreciate and understand.
I believe we need to take that into careful consideration in deciding
how to represent our understanding of the world to them.

Best wishes,

Larry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Larry Cartwright   <exit60@cablespeed.com>
Retired Physics Teacher
Charlotte MI 48813 USA
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"Information is not knowledge,
 knowledge is not wisdom,
 and wisdom is not foresight.
 Each grows out of the other
 and we need them all."
            (Arthur C. Clarke)
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