Paul Brandwein and the National Science Teachers Association

Abstract

“Science. Teachers,” said Paul Brandwein 20 years ago. “Those are sacred words.” This statement expressed his feelings about the subject and its apostles. As a teacher for many years, he knew the extraordinary influence good science teachers could have on students, particularly at the elementary and middle-school levels. Brandwein was not a joiner, unless he valued an organization and thought his endorsement could offer assistance in establishing and increasing its credibility and influence. Two education organizations occupied much of Brandwein’s time and expertise, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s—the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS). In later years, he also was active in the Conservation Education Association, which later became part of the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the National Association for Gifted Children.