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Biology textbooks have sometimes been a political target. In Texas, creationists have periodically attempted to remove or amend textbooks that present Darwin’s theory of evolution as fact. This movement has unfolded in the public eye, subject to scrutiny and debate. Perhaps for that reason the creationists have been routed. But there is a more insidious form of influence on textbooks, whereby fashionable nonsense (to borrow the title of a book by Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont) seeps into the content by a kind of cultural osmosis. It’s hard to stop in advance and, once it’s there, even harder to remove.This essay is a case study of this phenomenon. Consider Campbell Biology, an introductory college-level textbook that comes highly recommended for AP Biology and is cited as “an important book for postgraduate medical examinations.” Now in its 12th edition, the lead author reports that since its first edition in 1987, the book has been used by “12 million students” and is considered “the gold standard for accuracy.” The superb illustrations draw the reader in. It is published by the mighty Pearson Education, whose textbooks have been targeted by Texas creationists. ...
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Topic: The Gender Revolution Comes for Biology Textbooks (Read 246 times)
