The Importance of Teaching Earth Science in Schools

Authored by:
Patricia H. Kelley, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC
and
Rachel J. Burks, Towson University, Towson, MD

Adopted April 2004; Revised October 2005

Position Statement:
The Geological Society of America (GSA) recognizes that knowledge of the earth sciences is essential to science literacy and to meeting the environmental and resource challenges of the twenty-first century. GSA endorses the adoption of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) by all public and private school systems and incorporation of the study of earth science into all educational levels from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Background

Earth science literacy is of critical importance to our nation. If our citizens are to make informed decisions about the future, every high school graduate needs to be educated in the area of earth sciences. Prominent issues facing us include land use and development, availability of energy and mineral resources, water resources and quality, preservation of wetlands, erosion, waste management, pollution remediation, and geological hazards. An understanding of the earth sciences is critical to a secure future.

The NSES, developed by the National Academies, recognize that the earth sciences are seminal to scientific literacy. Content standards have been articulated in the areas of physical science, life science, and earth and space science. The NSES Science Content Standards include Earth and Space Science standards for grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Content standards for grades K-4 include "Properties of earth materials" and "Changes in earth and sky." In grades 5-8, content is to include "Structure of the earth system" and "Earth's history." High school level material includes "Energy in the earth system," "Geochemical cycles," and "Origin and evolution of the earth system." The National Science Education Standards thus recognize that study of the earth sciences is essential at all grade levels; this view contrasts with the common practice of restricting teaching of earth sciences to grades K-8.

Not only are the earth sciences a significant component of the NSES (of equal status with physical sciences and life sciences), the earth sciences also provide the best all-around introduction to science. The earth sciences integrate concepts from all the other major disciplines of science, including biology, chemistry and physics. A course in earth sciences can provide to students an introduction to subject matter in all the other sciences that illustrates their relevance and connections. Earth sciences also form the essential core for the formal study of environmental science, a growing discipline at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Thus, teaching of earth sciences throughout elementary and secondary schools will promote scientific literacy in general.

Implementation

The Geological Society of America encourages its members to support the adoption of the National Science Education Standards by all public and private school systems. Strengthening the science content of certification courses will improve the education of future primary and secondary students. We encourage our members, particularly earth science faculty, to become involved with earth science certification programs for pre-service teachers at their institutions. We also enlist the aid of our members to support both the inclusion of an earth science course in high school science curricula and proficiency exams in earth science for graduating high school seniors.

Members who use this position statement to support such measures are requested to report the circumstances of such use to the GSA Geology & Public Policy Committee.

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© The Geological Society of America

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