Poor Science, Boiled Truth

The article title is "Intent on addressing Maine's science teacher shortage", and you'll find an excerpt and a link to the full text over at Articles of Interest, along with a varied lot of other interesting and timely material. Every day the discerning editors at Articles winnow the chaff from the wheat (in educational news) and deliver the best right to your electronic doorstep!

The lead of the piece really got our attention:

Put a frog in water and gradually heat the liquid.

What happens?

Frances Eberle, executive director of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, will tell you that the frog doesn't notice the temperature change until it's too late to escape.

The story serves as Eberle's cautionary tale about the shortage of math and science teachers in Maine's public schools.

What got our attention is that this tale of the frog not noticing the temperature change in its surrounding water is just plain wrong. It's a myth!

Take a look here for an explanation.

In a way, this error proves the point: the need for good science teachers has never been greater!