Science Education and the National Science Foundation - Journal of

Aug 1, 1971 - Science Education and the National Science Foundation. J. Chem. Educ. , 1971, 48 (8), p 514. DOI: 10.1021/ed048p514. Publication Date: ...
1 downloads 0 Views 278KB Size
Science Education and the National Science Foundation

encourage the determination of the level of funding of science education on the basis of the value of science education to our society and the determination of the level of funding of research programs on the basis of the value of research to our society. The action of the House Authorization Subcommittee seems to place research and education in direct competition for funds. In this type of competition the total scientific community must invariably lose. There is the very real question of the relation of the support to science education to the number and the quality of professional scientists produced.. This depends

514

/

lournol o f Chemical Educafion

entirely upon the way the support is used. To focus exclusively on the production of professional scientists is to negate a very significant function of science education in our society. Only strong program in science education can justify a consistent, high level of support through NSF. Opportunities and responsibilities have been surveyed in "Science Education-The Task Ahead for The National Science Foundation" (NSF publication 7113). It remains to develop the programs to attain the goals appropriate to the changing needs of our society.