Science in the Classroom

[Sundiver]

Okay so here's the scenario, in my son's third grade classroom they've begun the process of learning about scientific method and prediction. All well and fine, however my son chose not to participate in the experiment based upon the fact that a living thing was going to be permitted to suffer and or die. All that being aside my question is this: Is it teaching good fundamental science to these children to teach them that it's okay for any living organism to suffer in the name of science? Now I'm not talking about animal experimentation in a college setting or corporate or medical research but teaching children.

"I am writing you to inform you of a problem we had in class today.  Today in science we started our study of plants.  We discussed living, nonliving, and once living. As a class we defined the three and told the difference of the three. Awhile later as we were discussing living objects I asked what the needs were of a living object.  After going over the needs and writing them on the board I told the class we were going to do an experiment.  The experiment would involve two healthy plants one would be given the needs and that other would not be given the needs."

To me this just seems the wrong way to approach scientific method with elementary children. Why not instead have the exeripmental plant be fed plant food?

[Mightytboy]

Science is not for teaching morality or compasion. It is there to show us what happens when we do or don't do this or that.

Touchy feely science goes no where.

[Debonair]

it went a long way for Dr Alfred Kinsey

[john9001]

OMG they want to kill a plant? they are monsters. that is no way to raise a metro-sexual child.

[Mickey1992]

Originally posted by Debonair
it went a long way for Dr Alfred Kinsey

OMG!!  

[nirvana]

Sun,

Let your son make decisions, if he doesn't want to kill something, he shouldn't have to.  If it becomes a problem affecting his grades then you and your spouse  may need to have a conference with the teacher.  Dissecting frogs in a high school biology class we were allowed to skip it, but if you did then you still had to do a "virtual dissection".  I didn't learn scientific method until 6th grade and the only "experiments" we did in elementary were growing beans in a plastic baggy and having some animals in the classroom.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Plants don't suffer, they have no nervous systems. Anyone thinking otherwise is a vegetable.

You could begin your childs adventure to science by explaining this thing first.

[Gunthr]

To me this just seems the wrong way to approach scientific method with elementary children. Why not instead have the exeripmental plant be fed plant food?

Sundiver, correct me if I misunderstood, but as described, the experiment appears to be for the purpose of seeing what happens to healthy plants under two conditions:

1. when the plant's needs are met
2. when the plant's needs are not met.

and to demonstrate the use of the scientific method in conducting the experiment.

How does your suggestion: "Why not instead have the exeripmental plant be fed plant food?[/b]"   make any sense at all in this context?

[NATEDOG]

so when he's a teen, are you going to let him get out of mowing the lawn with this excuse? or pulling weeds?

[Ripsnort]

Something tells me when they dissect dead frogs in 6th grade, there is going to be hell raised by the Sundiver family.

[xrtoronto]

SD it sounds like your son may be showing first signs of independent thinking. I think it is wonderful you have honoured his perspective. I suspect if you continue to do so you and your son will reap a lifetime of reward.

Something for you to consider is an introduction to others who feel the same way he does. One leader who comes to mind is:

Dali Lama - Instructions for Life    



INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

1.  Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2.  When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3.  Follow the three R’s:

Respect for self
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.

4.  Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5.  Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6.  Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7.  When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8.  Spend some time alone every day.

9.  Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

[ChickenHawk]

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Plants don't suffer, they have no nervous systems. Anyone thinking otherwise is a vegetable.

You could begin your childs adventure to science by explaining this thing first.

Best advice yet.  There is a vast difference between animals and plants.  Explaining that plants don't suffer or feel anything will make eating a salad or piece of fruit a less traumatic experience for the little guy.

[Ripsnort]

Dali Lama - Instructions for Life    



INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE


8.  Spend some time alone every day.




Woo hoo!

[xrtoronto]

lol Rip

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by ChickenHawk
 Explaining that plants don't suffer or feel anything will make eating a salad or piece of fruit a less traumatic experience for the little guy.

Researchers Determine Plants Can Feel Pain, Vegetarians Eye Rocks
By Brian Briggs

 
East Lansing, MI - Researchers from Michigan State University discovered that plants have a rudimentary nerve structure which allows them to feel pain.

David Blackford who heads the research team explained, "The nervous system is undeveloped, but it is there. This could be the evolutionary breakthrough that we've been looking for."

While a great research breakthrough for scientists, the discovery causes a dilemma for strict vegetarians who don't eat animal products because of concerns about animal safety.

A group of vegetarians at the local Carrot Café restaurant shared their feelings.

"If a potato feels pain, I might as well eat a baby seal," said Carrie Selby of Lansing. "Or maybe, I'll try out that all-dirt diet I've heard so much about."

Jenna Chang from Okemos added, "I always thought I heard a tiny scream every time I pulled a carrot out of the ground at the community garden."

Meat lovers reported a much greater desire to devour a salad after hearing the news. "I knew it," exclaimed one carnivore, "those vegetarians act all high and mighty and they're just as big of killers as I am. Heck, even more so. Only one cow had to die to make my steak, but lots of plants were massacred to make that mixed green salad!"

 
People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants sprang up concurrently with the announcement. "We've placed picketers at cornfields around the country. They grow these things so close together, the stalks barely have room to turn around and move," said PETP spokesperson William Wagner.

"We're recommending that our members focus on food items that don't feel pain like nerve damaged infants or Styrofoam," Wagner continued. "Here, have one of our 'Salad is Murder' T-shirts."