All Christians? Experiences of Science Educators in Northern Ireland

Autor/inn/en	Murphy, Colette; Hickey, Ivor; Beggs, Jim
Titel	All Christians? Experiences of Science Educators in Northern Ireland
Quelle	In: Cultural Studies of Science Education, 5 (2010) 1, S.79-89 (11 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1871-1502
DOI	10.1007/s11422-009-9210-9
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Protestants; Catholics; Religion; Creationism; Foreign Countries; Evolution; Christianity; Science Education; Teaching Methods; Conflict; Science Teachers; United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Protestantism; Protestantismus; Katholik; Schöpfungstheologie; Ausland; Christentum; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Konflikt; Science; Teacher; Teachers; Science teacher; Wissenschaft; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende
Abstract	In this paper we respond to Staver's article (this issue) on an attempt to resolve the discord between science and religion. Most specifically, we comment on Staver's downplaying of difference between Catholics and Protestants in order to focus on the religion-science question. It is our experience that to be born into one or other of these traditions in some parts of the world (especially Northern Ireland) resulted in starkly contrasting opportunities, identities and practices in becoming and being science educators. The paper starts with a short contextual background to the impact of religion on schooling and higher education in Northern Ireland. We then explore the lives and careers of three science/religious educators in Northern Ireland: Catholic (Jim) and Protestant (Ivor) males who are contemporaries and whose experience spans pre-Troubles to post-conflict and a Catholic female (Colette) who moved to Northern Ireland during the Troubles as a teenager. Finally, we discuss the situation regarding the teaching of creationism and evolution in Northern Ireland--an issue has recently generated high public interest. The Chair of the Education Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly recently stated that "creationism is not for the RE class because I believe that it can stand scientific scrutiny and that is a debate which I am quite happy to encourage and be part of..." ("News Letter" 2008). It could be the case that the evolution debate is being fuelled as a deliberate attempt to undermine some of the post-conflict collaboration projects between schools and communities in Northern Ireland. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10