19th Annual Student Research Conference
Education
Survey of Attitudes in and Teaching of Evolution by Science Teachers in Northeast Missouri
Chelsea L. Haas♦*, Ruth Delaware♦, Alexandra Kiefe, Christopher Maher, and Katherine Schottmueller
Dr. John Hoffmann and Dr. Lin Twining, Faculty Mentors
Since the Missouri legislature has considered bills that would affect the teaching of evolution, middle and high school science teachers were surveyed as to attitudes toward, and experiences with, teaching evolution. Surveys were sent to 341 teachers, 113 were returned. Survey questions included those from surveys by the National Science Teacher's Association, Rutledge and Miller (American Biology Teacher, 2002), and K. Bilica, (2002, unpublished). The investigators developed additional questions. Questions included those that asked teacher’s political views and how they viewed the political climate of the community where they teach, and whether they felt pressured to include intelligent design/creation, or omit evolution from their teaching. Most teachers (67.2%) considered themselves to be liberal or moderate in their political/worldviews, while 54.9% viewed the community where they teach to be conservative. Approximately 25% felt pressured to include creation/intelligent design, or to omit evolution, from their teaching. Additional survey results will be discussed.
Keywords: science education, evolution
Topic(s):Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 1-5
Location: OP 2113
Time: 9:15
♦ Indicates Truman Graduate Student