A Study of Teachers’ Perception towards Scientific temper

A study on teachers' perception of scientific temper is essential as the teachers play a crucial role in students' learning by inculcating scientific temper among them. In this regard, the high school trained graduate teachers (TGT), particularly science teachers' perception and understanding of the term "scientific temper" was studied in this article. As a case study of Punjab, India, 672 TGT science teachers teaching classes VI-X are examined via response to the prepared questionnaire. Out of 672 teachers, 525 were from CBSE-affiliated private schools and 147 were from Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) affiliated schools in Punjab. It was inferred from the responses that many teachers of CBSE-affiliated private schools have never heard the word "scientific temper." TGT science teachers generally heard to this word during their bachelor of Education course or in-service training. Many TGT science teachers are also unaware that our constitution includes the term "scientific temper." The existence of the term scientific temper in the Indian Constitution is unknown to around one-fourth of the TGT science teachers participated in the survey. Subconstructs of the Bajwa and Mahajan 2012 SAS scale, i.e., open-mindedness, curiosity, faith in the scientific method, rationality, and superstition, are used in the questions for TGT science teachers who responded yes to the first question related to scientific temper. Some teachers are conversant with the subconstructs of scientific temper. From the survey, it is found that orientation programs specifically on scientific temper are not included in the designed in-service teacher training programs for both CBSE and PSEB. However, all teachers agree that education aims to inculcate the scientific temper among students.