posted 09-21-2009 03:59 PM               

As part of the process a Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills review team composed of parents and teachers has suggested removing Neil Armstrong from a "science strand" in a 5th grade social studies book.

Effectively this would remove the mention of Armstrong has a figure of historical significance from 5th grade textbooks. I asked board spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe why this change was made and she explained:

The team said they made this proposal because he was not a scientist. The State Board of Education has not voted for or against that proposal yet. It won't vote on the social studies proposal until January.

Other sites are covering this too:

• Bad Astronomy: One backwards leap for Texas
  
• Burnt Orange Report: Cesar Chavez, Thurgood Marshall... Neil Armstrong?!
  
• Pharyngula: Texas doesn't like Neil Armstrong?

posted 09-21-2009 04:48 PM               

• How many important scientific discoveries were made throughout history by non-scientists...or at least non-professional scientists?
• Armstrong was professionally trained to do science when he landed on the moon, making him a scientist as far as I'm concerned. (And as a professionally-trained and licensed geologist myself, I have no problem giving Armstrong credit as being a scientist.)
• As a test pilot, Armstrong was effectively a flight test engineer...another perfectly respectible area of research.
• Even if one doesn't wish to credit Armstrong as a scientist, he (and the other astronauts) are still noteworthy explorers who furthered scientific discovery. Without the astronauts, our knowledge of the moon's composition, age, distance, etc. would likely not have been discovered as soon as they were.

posted 09-21-2009 05:15 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
Why do you think the Texas license plate has a shuttle on it?

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posted 09-21-2009 07:58 PM               

Then what is the next step, delete Christopher Columbus?

The way things are in the California education system, I guess I am happy that they aren't giving space in the textbooks to the moon hoaxers. Not that half the California kids would be able to read them anyway these days.

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Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

posted 09-21-2009 08:05 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by ejectr:
Personally, I think engineers are scientists.

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posted 09-22-2009 10:26 AM               

1. An expert in a field of study
   
2. A person who has studied science, especially one who is active in a particular field of investigation.
   
3. A person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
   
4. A scientist, in the broadest sense, refers to any person that engages in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices and traditions that are linked to schools of thought or philosophy.

posted 09-22-2009 12:11 PM               

Dear Texas Board of Education,

As the authorized biographer of Neil A. Armstrong and professional historian, I find your reported decision to omit Mr. Armstrong's name from the "science strand" in Texas's fifth grade textbooks totally ridiculous and unjustified. I wonder how many of your board members actually know anything about Armstrong's career other than he was first man on the Moon? Apart from the fact that the first Moon landing will forever stand as one of mankind's boldest and most remarkable achievements, Armstrong, throughout his life, made many outstanding contributions to the progress of flight, both in and out of the atmosphere. As for him not being a "scientist," I dare say your Board members need a better understanding of what engineers do and how they do it, and how Armstrong was much more than a pilot; he was an engineering research pilot and astronaut whose every flight connected in important ways to the science of flying.

Please reconsider what people around the world are regarding to be an idiotic decision on the part of the Texas Board of Education.

Yours truly,

Dr. James R. Hansen
Neil Armstrong Biographer &
Professor of History and Director of the Honors College
Auburn University

posted 09-22-2009 03:49 PM               

If they did they would have discovered his scientific investigations and papers that were a part of his work with NACA and NASA during his time at Ames-Dryden Center at Edwards Air Force Base. This included atmospheric work, guidance and many other areas.

posted 09-22-2009 05:45 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by sts205cdr:
Buzz was a scientist and he was there every step of the way.

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Wasn't Buzz at least one small step behind?

posted 09-22-2009 09:59 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by teachspace:
The address is stated for use if you have a concern. Sounds like we all have concerns: teainfo@tea.state.tx.us

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And yes, in reality, the Apollo program was an engineering program, science took a back seat. The goal was to get there and get back safely, not to explore.

Once the 'get there and get back safely' part was worked out, the emphasis of the missions shifted considerably towards science, but we all know that only one Scientist went to the moon and only by the narrowest of margins did he get the last seat on the ride.

So if I was teaching about the Apollo program, I would be honest. The reason we went to the moon was political. The program that got us there was chiefly an Engineering program, but the emphasis was shifted towards Science once the ability to get there and back was established. So Politics, produced Engineering, which permitted Science, which gave us knowledge. What a great example of how these disparate disciplines can interact to produce something of value for all!

Now, in understanding Apollo's significance and it's place in history, this is important to understand. It also explains why the people to go in the ships were almost all engineers who were highly experienced fliers (or the other way around if you wish!). But none of that means that the Human achievement of going there is devalued unless a Scientist was on board.

Columbus went on his voyages to seek fame and fortune, not knowledge. Isabella didn't bankroll his 'program' in spite of this, but because of it. So why bother to learn about Columbus? Because those who go first make an outsized contribution to human history. As such, the Crew of Apollo 11, most notably Armstrong, have done so as well. To ignore a living Columbus in our midst is foolish and contributes to the ignorance of our children, not to their education.

Let's send them some emails that show them they are mistaken and/or misinformed, not just idiotic. It might have more impact.

posted 09-22-2009 11:08 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Wasn't Buzz at least one small step behind?

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--John

posted 09-23-2009 06:53 AM               

I give talks to school groups on history and occasionally space. Far and away the home school and private school groups are much better prepared and motivated.

The failure of the government education system is one of the reasons for U.S. decline in many areas. And with moon hoaxers teaching kids IN CLASS that we never went to the moon, what can we expect?

posted 09-23-2009 08:33 AM               

Effectively this would remove the mention of Armstrong has a figure of historical significance from 5th grade textbooks.

posted 09-23-2009 12:02 PM               

Dr. Schmitt, by any definition, is a scientist (assuming the Board of Education agrees that geology is valid science).

Furthermore, in any discussion of Dr. Schmitt, the textbook would have to acknowledge that he wasn't the first person to walk on the Moon -- in fact, it could easily be justified to describe him as the 12th and last to step down off the lunar module ladder. That accomplishes several important lessons:

1. We went to the Moon more than once.
   
2. There were 12 people who walked on the Moon.
   
3. That one of the accomplishments of going to the Moon was learning more about its geological history.

posted 09-23-2009 12:03 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Space Possum:
I can assure you that it is not just Texas, all over the country schools are dumbing down the curricula in all subjects.

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posted 09-23-2009 04:14 PM               

What do you think Armstrong might think about this controversy?

Neil is such a modest man. If he's heard of it, and someone probably has sent him something on it, I would think he might have some private thoughts. He would keep them to himself. But he would probably say, "It doesn't matter if my name is in the book itself." But he would want some recognition of the program and the 400,000 people involved in it. He wouldn't care for his own sake, but he would care for the sake of the Apollo program and the historical record. Neil is the iconic representation of what the moon landings were all about. It's not so much a slap in the face at Armstrong, although some people will view it that way, it's a slap in the face to the program over all.

posted 09-23-2009 05:16 PM               

Yeah, take Armstrong out since he wasn't a scientist. As if they teach science very well in school anymore anyway. Sure glad I was a kid of the 70s and lived all this history!

posted 09-23-2009 08:26 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Space Possum:
I can assure you that it is not just Texas, all over the country schools are dumbing down the curricula in all subjects.

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posted 09-24-2009 08:02 AM               

The decline in education standards is real and it is evident in practically all subjects being taught. I see it in all of the different states I visit.

Perhaps the situation in your state is different, but many educators I have spoken to privately say they are heavily pressured to teach the students how to pass the exams rather than actually teaching them anything substantive, and that is part of the problem.

Please DO NOT get off your soapbox! We need concerned and dedicated people like yourself to try and fix this broken education system from the inside.