EOL 469 Questionaire

Dave Stone

Teaching Associate, University Laboratory High School, Urbana, IL

1212 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana, IL 61801

(217) 643-7622

dstone@uni.uiuc.edu

Teaching Responsibilities: Introductory Biology, Organismal Biology, Field Biology and Genetics

Extracurricular Responsibilities: Exploravision and ThinkQuest coaching so far this year

Current Degree Program: CTER M.Ed. Program (U of I)

Previous Degrees: BS - Biology, Environmental Studies (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point),

M.S. - Entomology (U of I)

Legal topic(s) that you would like to have covered in the course: (List no more than 3,please.)

I'm assuming that legalities regarding emerging technologies will be a major course focus for the CTER students based on the course description and its inclusion as a foundation course in the CTER program. Aside from the emerging technology issues, I would like to see the following addressed:

1. Evolution/creationism in the classroom - in light of the recent decision of the Kansas Board of Education decision to exclude all reference to evolution from the state science standards, I think this would be quite timely and plan to focus my individual project/policy development efforts in this class in that area. More broadly, I guess this would fall into the category of the role of state boards in specifying curricular teaching. There have to be a number of law suits in this area. I wonder how long it will take for a group of parents to file a class action suit against the Kansas State Board of Education.

2. Legally mandated voluntary exclusion from classroom topics deemed contrary to religious teachings. In my case, I have a Christian Scientist student in my classroom. My understanding is that she is exempted from all reference to disease in the curriculum, though I have yet to be contacted by her parents regarding what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable. I respect her family's rights to religious freedom, but as a teacher, I would like to better understand where the legal lines actually are found, both at the federal and state levels.

3. Teacher and teacher/sponsor responsibility and liability in field trip and extracurricular sponsorship capacities.

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