Let's Put Brain Science on the Back Burner By John T. Bruer
There has long been a simmering interest in brain research among
educators. Recently, however, that interest has gone from simmer
to full boil. In the past 18 months, for example, we have seen
special issues of The American School Board Journal (February
1997), Educational Leadership (March 1997), and The School
Administrator (January 1998). Now the NASSP Bulletin addresses
the implications of the new brain research for educators. These
issues contain a variety of articles--articles by advocates of
brain-based curricula, articles by educational futurists,
articles by cognitive (not brain) scientists. In fact, it is
rare to find an article written by a neuroscientist in the
educational literature. Of these articles, those citing
cognitive research on learning, intelligence, memory. and
specific subject matter learning provide the most useful advice
to educators. Educators should be aware that cognitive science--
the behavioral science of the mind--is n