Florida end-of-course exams

The Orlando Sentinel has a story up about Florida’s attempt to introduce end-of-course exams. Paul Cottle’s efforts on behalf of science education are mentioned:

About 100 Florida science professors think Florida isn’t doing enough if a biology exam is the only end-of-course science exam it plans. Earlier this year, the group of professors sent a letter and issued a paper to state leaders, urging them to develop a comprehensive series of end-of-course exams in science.

“Rigorous science education is the driver that will transform Florida into a modern economic powerhouse,” the professors wrote.

Replacing the 11th-grade FCAT science exam with just a biology test will mean high schools will feel no pressure to teach chemistry, earth and space sciences or physics, the professors wrote.

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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4 Responses to Florida end-of-course exams

  1. Johnny says:

    There’s a totalitarian subtext to scientism. Scientism entails a militant certainty of truth, and an utter intolerance for dissent that is remarkably akin to totalitarian political movements. Scientism is increasingly a spawn of the political left, which has been the primary source of totalitarianism in the past century.

    The reaction of Darwinists or of global warming scientists to even the most mild skepticism is remarkably vicious. They hunt down skeptics and suppress differing opinions using practically any means at their disposal. If a school district attaches a sticker to a textbook that says “Darwin’s theory is a theory, not a fact, and evidence for and against it should be considered.” it will find itself in federal court, facing financial ruin, with jail a possibility for individuals who don’t comply. Who would have imagined, a few decades ago, that scientists would use courts to settle scientific disputes?

    As the ClimateGate emails amply demonstrate, scientists who believe in global warming systematically exclude and professionally destroy scientists who express skepticism. The emails show a remarkable demand for doctrinal purity in climate science. These pro-global warming scientists manufacture a “consensus” using strong-arm tactics, and enforce it with singular purpose. And when asked why scientists use such brutal tactics, they reply ‘because it’s consensus science!”

    Particularly disturbing to me is the appellation “denialism” applied to mere questioning of scientific orthodoxy. It’s an effort to drive anyone who questions orthodoxy out of acceptable society. Bourgeoisie, reactionaries, revisionists, denialists. It fits well in the Leninist lexicon.

    Melanie Phillips at the British Spectator has a fine essay on this totalitarian current in the global warming movement. It applies as well to other encroachments of scientism in our civilization.

  2. Karl says:

    Wow, didn’t take you creationists long to pull this climate change scandal. By all means, this scandal does violate the integrity of scientific research. Hiding data and bullying researchers who formulated conclusions from valid scientific data which detract from the consensus IS bad science. Congratulations, you found an example of this scientific totalitarianism you’ve been harping about.

    Now. The question is, why does Christianity get a pass for this sort of behavior?

  3. Paul R says:

    Johnny writes: “Who would have imagined, a few decades ago, that scientists would use courts to settle scientific disputes?”

    Well, see, some scientists had no choice but to use the courts, because they were stripped of their civil or constitutional rights and our Founders thoughtfully included a mechanism for an oppressed minority group member (e.g., a scientist or teacher) to seek restitution upon getting fired or arrested for doing his/her job the way he/she was taught to do so, and independent of religious or political influence.

    And why is your complaint in this thread to begin with? It has nothing to do with the K-12 science standards. The anti-evolutionists lost that battle in 2008 – so is it time to move on to climate now? Where in the state standards does it say that science teachers have to teach “global warming” anyway?

    Why not go back to cigarette smoking and tell us why its link to cancer has not yet been proven because doctors can’t tell you which cigarette will light the fuse that is likely to take your life earlier than if you had not taken up smoking?

    I agree with Karl – some of the most blatantly hateful, deceitful, harmful, and attacking comments come from anti-evolutionists and people who champion the claims of the contrarians on anthropogenic climate change; sometimes aimed at scientists who are being quite objective. And their work gets withheld from publication, retracted, or withdrawn or edited, and they are just supposed to sit back. It is about time some of these scientists got a backbone. Sure I wish the dialog could be more civil on all fronts…but with everybody on air all the time and broadcasters shouting at the world (howling at the moon), it is hard to practice civil discourse on matters that rightfully should be deliberated and debated openly.

    The real problem as stated in other threads here and elsewhere is the fundamental lack of respect that science as a process, scientists as a profession, and science teachers have in this state. When Todd Clark says we are basically last in the nation, and has the stats to back it up, I hope that people with the ability to make changes will do something to step up to the plate. Kudos to FCS, Bridge to Tomorrow, and those who resist the gravitational race to the bottom.

  4. Chris says:

    The tidbit on replacing the 11th grade FCAT science exam with just biology is questionable. It’s insane to consider this as a change that will transform Florida into a modern economic powerhouse but it could be a reasonable move to indoctrinate students with more monkey business.

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