B. The Atomic Age and Its Relation to High School Science Teaching

Abstract

Prof. Burnett opens his article with a retrospective glance at recent air-age educa tion, and makes a plea that education for the atomic age will not duplicate some of the shortcomings committed in the previous effort. He then discusses the charac teristics of the atomic age, including both its social implications, as well as the threats and promises it offers along more purely scientific lines.

Turning then to the responsibilities of modern science teachers, the writer dis cusses them in terms of the knowledge which he must assimilate and organize and the general education which he must pass on to all his pupils. The article is concluded with a list of major teaching objectives for literacy in the atomic age, including the principles which pupils should know, the skills which they should possess, and the behaviors which they should exhibit if the objectives of education for the atomic age are to be realized.