Presented are critical comments on the British Schools Council, Science Committee, Programmes of Work 1980-82, and financial allocations to various curriculum and instructional projects. The author's personal frustrations while serving on the Science Committee are also given. (JN)

This paper has two major objectives. The first is to examine a broad "umbrella" goal for school science programs, commonly referred to as "scientific literacy," which has evolved in practice as a way to express a balanced formulation of the several legitimate and competing purposes for teaching science in schools. The second is…