Science is one of those human activities that man has created to gratify certain human needs and desires. Disinterested curiosity has been the greatest motive power of scientific research. The ‘search of truth’ became the dominant motive in the prosecution of science. It has been pursued for so many centuries and attracted ever- wider extent of attention of a much persisted group of people. Science is valued mostly for its practical advantages though it is also valued of gratifying disinterested curiosity and as an object of great aesthetic charm. It is quite obvious that the bulk of mankind, value science, chiefly for the practical advantages it brings with it.
According to Montessori Teacher Training, a few decades back, science was given a step- motherly treatment and was considered to be a subject meant for less promising students, the more promising student were encouraged to study the classics and mathematics as being more worthy and suitable subjects. Since has now established its claim to be placed in the school curriculum. It has now been recognized as a compulsory subject right from the elementary stage and now one of the core subjects at higher secondary stage. It has taken a good many years of active and persistent effort to reach this position.
It will be futile to prepare separate case for the inclusion of science in the curriculum because the reasons for its inclusions are exactly the same as those for the inclusions of science in the curriculum because of some special values provided by science only and not by any other subject. All the school subjects are taught because they provide a liberal education, they are a part of equipment and preparation for life which we expect the school to give to its pupil so that they may play their part in community as intellectual citizens. Science takes its place side by side with other subjects as an essential element of one’s education. It affords a knowledge of certain facts and laws and an insight into methods and data peculiar to the domain of science. However the inclusion of any subject in the curriculum should satisfy the intellectual, utilitarian, vocational, cultural, moral and aesthetic values. Besides these the teaching of science imparts training in the ‘scientific method’ and develops ‘scientific attitude’ which are very valuable and at the same time are transferable to other situations in life.
The rapid advancement of science and technology and increasing need for scientists and technologists have made it all the more important to provide for science based educations in the schools. Vigorous methods for the cultivation and promotion of science should be adopted. The Teacher Training Mumbai has recommended that every secondary school pupil should study general science as a compulsory subject so that he gains a basic quantum of scientific knowledge as a part of his general education. In addition provision should be made for providing elective subjects in science for those students who want to pursue higher study.
