More Questions than Answers

Abstract

In this commentary on ‘Time to Change Drivers for Science Literacy’ by Peter Fensham I address two issues raised by Fensham. First, Why is reforming the science curriculum so hard? I suggest that the reason that science curriculum reform is difficult to achieve is that the practice of science teaching has been shaped by the culture in which it is embedded. Second, What are the potential possibilities of and problems with Fensham's reform proposal? The content of the curriculum that Fensham proposes would be largely dependent on how the societal experts are chosen and on what media sources are examined. Finally, we need to recognize that whatever we agree upon today as the most appropriate content for the science curriculum must be continually negotiated and revised.