OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : INLINE : Scientific Outlook

U.S. students would tackle some of science’s thorniest controversies--for example, the ethics of fetal-tissue research--under newly proposed teaching standards that would add lessons in social issues to traditional course work in biology, chemistry and physics.

Released this month in draft form, the new standards would also put more emphasis on historical topics, such as the thinking that led to Copernicus’ conclusion in the 16th Century that the Earth revolves around the sun.

The standards, the development of which are the result of three years’ work funded by $6.5 million in federal grants, are intended to upgrade science lessons throughout the nation starting with kindergarten, and to set guidelines for what students should know by the ends of grades four, eight and 12.

While some teachers question whether schools will have the money to meet the ambitious new standards, others expect the impact to be dramatic.

Copies of the proposed standards may be obtained by writing to the National Science Education Standards, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW/HA 486, Washington, D.C. 20418.