Schools, science, social justice, and the role of violence

This article is a response to Carolina Castano’s article “Extending the purposes of science education.” Drawing on personal memories of life in Bogotá, I raise questions about the nature of violence in Colombia broadly, and ask how the intervention Castano proposes changes the ecology of violence in that country. It also ponders the relationship between schools, science, and violence. In conclusion it urges that science educators follow Castano’s recommendation to make science education responsive to local community needs rather than standardized visions of education.