The head of science education at McGill, Alters keeps a colourful collection of science toys, dinosaur figurines, fossils and skulls on hand. When one of the aspiring science teachers he trains enters his office, Alters wants the props to serve as a reminder of why they chose that particular field. He thinks science teachers have an almost unfair advantage over teachers in other disciplines. We have labs, we do experiments, we have hands-on activities. History and geography teachers have to rely on textbooks and maps.
Science teachers can light up a Bunsen burner to drive home their points.
Not that science teachers don't have their thorny challenges to contend with. Take evolution, for instance. It's a cornerstone for the entire discipline of biology. It's the ultimate 'where do I come from' question. But talk to an average Joe on Main Street about evolution and he's likely to turn up his nose and say it's a load of bunk.