Pratt (2000) acknowledged that science has both strengths and limitations. It follows that the advantages and disadvantages of science would be inherent in curriculum and education system as a whole. It is important to state that science is a product of the learning system, and the two are inseparable.
First, the scientific method is the foundation science. Scientific methods help to remove biases in research by making accurate observations using various instruments. Human preferences tend to give wrong data and, therefore, precise observations would ensure accuracy in educational research. The data present in educational theories needs to undergo thorough studies to make it correct and useful. In this regard, the scientific methods come in handy.
Moreover, one can predict future trend using science. Prediction of the future occurrences is of paramount importance because it helps people to prepare for eventualities from an informed point of view. For instance, upon the advancement of technology, it became necessary to predict the future needs of employers. As a result, educational institutions and the governments had to amend the curriculum to include the future requirements of the job market. Without prediction, many would be caught unawares something that would lead to reactionary measure that, in most cases, are not accurate and sustainable.
Besides, science tends to unify the world by creating universal laws, theories, and facts that education systems rely on while creating curriculum content. Without these basic scientific blocks, most likely, there would be mismatching curriculum content in the world that would lead to chaotic job markets. For instance, graduates from other parts of the world may not work in other regions because of the differences in the education system. In a nutshell, science is the building block of the curriculum through objective scientific methods, theories, laws, and facts that form the educational systems of the world.
On the contrary, science has weaknesses that may make some of the curriculum content unreliable in certain ways. For instance, some scientists may confuse theories for the truth. As noted earlier, curriculum content is primarily based on the scientific theory. However, that does not mean the all what the theories have come up with today is the truth. Continued research may end up proving the current ones as untrue and, as a result, all that the education system has been teaching may be null and void in the future.
Moreover, science limits itself to empirical evidence that requires limited human observations. The use of data from the things that are testable by scientific tools and human sensation ignores the others aspect that lies outside the scientific scope (“Science: Strengths and Limitations,” 2006). Although there have been attempts to explain untestable concepts using metaphysics, the knowledge from such approaches remains largely speculative. Besides, science tends to declare aspects that are not testable as non-existent.
In other cases, scientific knowledge results from biased or untested assumptions. Data obtained from such methods is not reliable. However, due to the interest of governments and other stakeholders, the results may be declared valid for use just to satisfy or guide the government agencies. In this regard, scientific data is not immune to biases and manipulation that leads to wrong conclusions. These findings would then be part of the curriculum by government agencies. It follows that there could be a significant proportion of the curriculum that is missing or misrepresented due to scientific weaknesses.
The above propositions point out the modern education system, and the curriculum relies mainly on science. The theories, laws, and facts forms curriculum content. However, not all content may be valid due to subjective scientific research, wrong assumptions and meddling by government agencies among others aspects.
References
Pratt P. J., (2000). Strengths and Weaknesses of Science. Retrieved on April 14, 2016 from http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2000/science.html
Science: Strengths and Limitations. (2006). Retrieved on April 14, 2016 from http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/rburkett/SRcourse_Sci_Limits.htm
