Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Enhancing Critical Thinking through Structured Academic Controversy

1994; University of California Press; Volume: 56; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/4449872

1938-4211

Janell M. Mead, Lawrence C. Scharmann,

Animal and Plant Science Education

The statement above, taken from the original film version of Inherit the Wind, can be used to generate student interest and initiate excellent opportunities for teaching critical thinking skills in high school biology. Set in 1925 and starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Kelly and Fredric March, Inherit the Wind portrays a small Tennessee town caught up in the fanaticism and mob mentality associated with a trial modeled after the famous Scopes Monkey Trial in which a high school teacher was arrested for teaching evolutionary theory, an action contrary to Tennessee law. This film, however, is much more than either explosive courtroom drama or a science-religion historical documentary. Indeed, the religion against science backdrop is often overshadowed by human displays of greed, pride, notoriety, power, politics and even romance (Wagner 1989). Filmed in black and white, Inherit the Wind attempts to set a stark contrast of good versus evil; however, the concepts turn out to be not so simple. The film does not explicitly teach about evolutionary theory. Instead, it frames an opportunity to examine a societal response to it. Filled with symbolism, the drama has much to offer observant students and innovative teachers.