Teaching About Stem Cell Research

Earlier this week Congress approved funding for reseach using stem cells. Immediately after the Senate approved the legislation, President Bush vetoed it - exercising his veto right for the first time. Research using stem cells has the potential to glean important scientific knowledge and the potential to eradicate some of the worst deseases. However, the Christian Right and a handful of other religious groups believe it is sacreligious and immoral to use stem cells, that have the potential for life, in scientific studies. The religious right equates using stem cells with murder.

A consideration of the use of stem cells for scientific purposes is clearly very controversial, particularly so in classrooms. Some teachers might choose not to bring up overly-controversial issues, such as whether or not the federal government should fund stem cell research or the origins of the world as intelligent design. However, I believe that eliminating these discussions from the classroom weakens educational programs.

Our students not only have a right to think about controversial issues. They have an obligation to do so. In a few short years, our students will hopefully participate in the democratic process that we call government. In order to effectively fulfill their responsibility to participate students must not only understand controversial issues. They must also be able to take sides or intelligently decide not to take a side. If we don't discuss these issues in our classrooms many students will not think about them.

I don't believe that it's appropriate for teachers to share their opinions on controversial issues. Rather, as teachers, we should ask questions and assign work that encourages our students to critically think about these issues and form their own opinions. Teachers can then encourage a healthy debate within their classrooms. If people complain that your students are discussing these issues, you can remind those complaining that the United States government is discussing these issues.

Students can learn much about stem cell research in a variety of different subject areas: certainly social studies and science. However, language arts teachers can ask students to read different perspectives on the issues and analyze the different perspectives. When students realize that they are learning about an important topic and their opinions can make a difference, they'll likely even enjoy the study.

Just a thought!!