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Pseudoscience
of Animals and Plants
A Teacher's Guide to Non-Scientific Beliefs
by
John Richard Schrock
SOURCES
FOR PRACTICE RECOGNIZING SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE
The
only way to insure that students will develop skills recognizing
weak claims to science is to challenge students to make
such distinctions in classwork. While the National Enquirer
and other tabloids provide a constant stream of near-nonsense,
you may want students to bite off more difficult issues.
The following two publications will provide a year's supply
of puzzling intermediate cases:
The
ISC Newsletter appears four times a year, is published
by the International Society of Cryptozoology and is available
for $30 annually. The organization also publishes the journal
Cryptozoology although the newsletter will be of
greater use to the classroom teacher. In biology circles,
this is a controversial publication, covering a range of
items from bonafide discoveries of organisms thought extinct
to musings over Sasquatch evidence.
Science
Frontiers is published by William Corliss who specializes
in extracting notes on anomalies that appear in bonafide
science journals. This bimonthly newsletter is $5 for six
issues or free with a book purchase. Corliss operates “The
Sourcebook Project” that brings together reports on everything
from ball lightning to Marfa lights . . . some of which
are now understood in science, some outside science paradigms,
and much yet to be confirmed and understood. Order from:
The Sourcebook Project, P.O. Box 107, Glen Arm, MD 21057.
Finally,
the following publication concentrates on exposing claims
of the paranormal and occasionally enters into arguments
with The ISC Newsletter:
The
Skeptical Inquirer is published by the Committee for
the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
(CSICOP) and provides an excellent critique of nearly all
pseudoscience issues (ESP. UFO's, face on Mars, etc.).
It is the best antidote for National Enquirer available.
Four issues per year cost $22.50,. $39 for two years and
$54 for a three year subscription from: Skeptical Inquirer,
Box 229, Buffalo, New York 14215.
STRANGE
BUT TRUE!
Many
plants and animals do have strange structures and behaviors
that may appear beyond belief to students with limited experiences.
The following Kansas School Naturalists describe
these amazing features:
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Fishes) Vol. 25, No. 3
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Insects) Vol. 25, No. 4
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Mammals) Vol. 26, No. 4
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Amphibians and Reptiles) Vol. 27,
No. 1
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Humans) Vol. 29, No. 1
“I
Didn't Know That!” (Plants) Vol. 31, No. 2
End
of This Issue
Next Issue: I Didn't Know That! (Weather)
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