Accounts Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
“Creation science has not entered the curriculum for a reason so simple and so basic that we often forget to mention it: because it is false, and because good teachers understand why it is false. What could be more destructive of that most fragile yet most precious commodity in our entire intellectual heritage-good teaching-than a bill forcing our honorable teachers to sully their sacred trust by granting equal treatment to a doctrine not only known to be false, but calculated to undermine any general understanding of science as an enterprise?.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on science education, 1998
Science education must exclude false doctrines to protect intellectual integrity and effective teaching.
In simple terms: False ideas damage teaching and science.
Key Takeaway
Reject false doctrines in curricula.
Themes
education
integrity
science
teaching
policy
Mood
concerned
defensive
Type
policy
argumentative
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- policy debates
- teacher training
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
critical thinking
epistemology
curriculum design
Questions to Reflect On
- How can educators address controversial topics responsibly?
- What safeguards ensure curriculum accuracy?
A Different Perspective
Balancing academic freedom with factual accuracy can be contentious.
