The 1980s: Fifty Years of Service (1981–1990)

Abstract

During the early 1980s, NABT had significant challenges as an organization. Fortunately, the strength of its members allowed NABT to become a well-recognized powerhouse of science teaching during the 1990s. In the 1980s, NABT met the challenges of declining funds and a declining membership. With staunch member support, a change in staff leadership led to financial soundness while addressing the varying needs of the membership to teach biology effectively. Special-interest sections were formed within the organization, and content-rich monographs were published to support the growing needs of biology educators. A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform was issued in 1983. This document described “the rising tide of mediocrity” within the educational system of the United States, especially in science. The major national issue was the upgrading of student competency in the sciences. Edward J. Kormondy (1981 NABT President) stated that “if teachers of science, math, and technology, as well as all other subjects, do not regard themselves as professionals imbued with knowledge, experiences and skill, the enterprise will crumble” (Kormondy, 1985). In response to this need, NABT began to develop special publications such as New Directions in Biology Teaching . A series of monographs was planned to provide teachers with useful classroom exercises and laboratories as supplements to their existing curricula (see Table 1). NABT partnered with the American Society of Zoologists to distribute their book series, Science as a Way of Knowing (Mayer, 1989b). The updating of biology content was the key to supporting NABT’s membership and to attracting and increasing new membership. View this table: Table 1. NABT Monographs Published during the 1980s. Other examples of NABT’s growth as a frontrunner in life science education occurred during the 1984 Conference. Computers’ introduction into the classroom was just beginning. At this conference, Purdue University sponsored several sessions on the use of …