I just read on the New York Times website "A Teacher on the Front Lines as Faith and Science Clash" by Amy Harmon and am just blown away by the story, and by the dedication, talent, and patience shown by David Campbell, the high school biology teacher featured in the article.
Campbell helped draft new standards mandating the teaching of evolution in Florida high schools because he felt that the “The kids are getting hurt” by not being exposed to “the organizing principle of life science.” He then had to put his money where his mouth was by teaching biology to the sophomores in his own school, at least some of whom had religious beliefs that made them hostile to many of evolution’s ideas.
The article is fascinating for many reasons, but for me its real punch came from reading about Campbell’s work to do exactly what teachers are supposed to do: open students’ minds and get them to see things in a new way. As I read I realized that I could never have succeeded at Campbell’s task. I came to the end of the article humbled, and reminded of the great teachers I’ve had who put in (I now realize) endless hours trying to figure out how to best make a big idea appeal to a young mind.
Please read it, let us know what you think, and give some kind of thanks for teachers like David Campbell.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, to sit in front of someone who does not consider himself as one who has all the answers but one who provides the right question to enable those listening to see things in new light – that would be education on a higher level.
Thanks for sharing the post. AS iI
nspiring as you have been with us readers.
Best.
alain
That is a great story and worth the read. I found it discouraging that he had to fight such a battle to keep science (evolution) on the science curriculum, but inspired by his perseverance and ultimately his success in getting through to his students.
Just read the whole story too, amazing story indeed! David Campbell, the high school biology teacher is a wonderfull man in my opinion. He could inspire many others..
Regards,
Bob
What I find fascinating about these kinds of stories is that they’re usually about clashing belief systems. I suppose it’s a Western motif (good vs. evil), but the really interesting discussions examine the various perspectives on what inferences may be plausibly drawn from the data and upon what basis those inferences may be considered valid. I’m not sure either approach changes many minds, but I suspect more is learned with the latter than with the former.
Thx for highlighting this article. Academics today must navigate a precarious landscape demarcated by censorship, political correctness and litigious repercussions.
Campbell comments in the article: Science and religion just ask different questions. Both questions deserve to be asked and I believe the opportunity to asks both questions was the intent of the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ….
Ideas should not be suppressed, but nor should they be worshipped.
I think one of the most difficult things that David Campbell has done is embrace the viewpoint of the opposition. I have learned that if you want to change someone’s mind, you’ll never get there by trying to “prove” them wrong… you need to start at their viewpoint and show them that you understand it before starting to bridge the gap to your own.
This is very difficult because this is such an oppositional issue, but David seems to have grasped a useful approach that doesn’t involve ridiculing students’ beliefs.
I thought it was a smart idea to start off with his Mickey Mouse analogy. I chuckled when he was talking about a particular subject and the kids would start firing off random god vs scienge questions.
While I have many thoughts on this topic, the only ones I will comment on are…
1. There is nothing wrong with calling evolution a theory. If Newton’s laws of motion, which is still the basis for virtually all of the tools in our society, can exist for 300 years and then be proven wrong by Einstein, then evolution can be proven wrong someday. By ID, probably not, but this whole “Evolution is not a theory! Its fact!” mantra just justifies that is whole issue is being debated by the ignorant on both sides.
2. Evolution is the not basis of the life sciences, it is chemistry and physics. New medicines, healthier lifestyles, etc, do not come from evolution. In fact evolution is nothing more than the product of chemistry and physics.
3. Personally, I do not believe that evolution should not be taught in HS, for it simply is not important to know. In high school, teach chemistry, teach physics, teach math, teach stats, teach F=MA. Then become engineers, statisticians, and scientists ( or in sum, become useful) to actually benefit society and not engage it small minded debates.
I would just like to respond to Malcolm’s first point above. Even though the theory of evolution is, in fact, a theory, does not mean that it is almost without doubt, fact. The scientific method defines very clear means by which “hypothesis”, “theory” and “law” are defined. Although I am not a scientist, i do know enough about science to know that these definitions are not the same as the common language definitions of these words. When a character on CSI Miami has a “theory” about who killed the mis-understood drug dealer, it is not the same s the “theory of evolution.” To conflate these two meanings of the word theory and to say that evolution is just a theory (with the common language meaning of the word) is intellectually dishonest. Very few things in science are law and it is not appropriate to hold the teaching of evolution to that standard. I do agree that there should be a lot more math in HS though.
Very interesting article. What I find remarkable when listening to discussions about religion, is that there seem to be such huge differences in opinions and beliefs. These cause different groups to seemingly not be able to approach eachother or to understand eachother i.e. islam vs. christianity.
This teacher is a pretty amazing fella. Mr. Campbell and others just like him deserve this type of attention once in a while. I think the article served it’s purpose and I’m glad I found it – it was a good read. Ill pass it along.
Thanks.
an uber fantastic article there, really inspirational. David Campbell is a hero of his kind. Real nice
“who put in (I now realize) endless hours trying to figure out how to best make a big idea appeal to a young mind.”
That’s the key to an interesting lesson at school. Make the lesson interactive and give examples.
That is a great story and worth the read.
Very interesting article Just read the whole story too, amazing story indeed! David Campbell, the high school biology teacher is a wonderfull man in my opinion. He could inspire many others.
“who put in (I now realize) endless hours trying to figure out how to best make a big idea appeal to a young mind.”
That's the key to an interesting lesson at school. Make the lesson interactive and give examples.
Truly an inspirational story. Campbells way of opening student's minds and getting them to see things in a new way are exactly what teachers are supposed to be doing!
Great post! Thank you for sharing this information. Regards, Jasper
Nice to see all the comments from Holland. Our international community really takes an interest in the way things work in the world. Or might they have other interesting reasons to be here?
Nice to see all the comments from Holland. Our international community really takes an interest in the way things work in the world. Or might they have other interesting reasons to be here?