I don’t think Pluto really cares

I just love how newspaper stories about the demotion of Pluto from planet to dwarf play up the whole personification of the solar system thing. It’s as if there is some seismic shift in planet hierarchy and the planets’ feelings have been hurt. It’s just silly.

Anyway, I do like how the nature of science is highlighted in this CNN story.

Whitsett, who is the president-elect of the NSTA, emphasized that the refigured solar system can energize teaching the true meaning of science.

“It’s not a collection of facts. It’s a process. It’s a way of solving problems. As our understanding of these facts changes, then the science changes a little bit,” he said.

Science and understanding change, but this change is not so earth-shattering, he said.

“The solar system right now is exactly like it was 24 hours ago,” Whitsett pointed out. “Nothing’s changed in that time period — just the name by which we define each of these things.”

And I also like how we can possibly seize upon this story to give science education in general a boost.

Whitsett believes the change will focus attention back on science, which he thinks has been relegated to a supporting role in recent years.

“Ever since No Child Left Behind was passed, there’s been a tremendous emphasis on reading and math, and as a result, especially in elementary schools, science has taken a back seat,” he said.

“What we have is something that’s been making a lot of press. Students are going to be asking questions, and I’ve always found that the best time to teach is when kids are asking questions, ” Whitsett said. “Anything that gets kids engaged and thinking about science has got to be a good thing.”

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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