Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Dear Science Communication Professionals: We have a problem.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) delivered news of a pretty shocking poll result: around one in four Americans (yes, that's 25 percent) are unaware that the Earth orbits the sun. Let’s repeat that: One in four Americans — that represents one quarter of the population — when asked probably the most basic question in science (except, perhaps, “Is the Earth flat?” Hint: No.), got the answer incorrect. Suddenly I realized why the Nye vs. Ham debate was so popular.
There's a movie called Idocracy. I firmly believe this is how we will end up. I've talked to people who don't know we've been to the Moon, so nothing would surprise me.
An education should be more than regurgitating rote data for a certificate - it should prepare students for the workplace and global competition.
Exhibit 1.
This is what the wave of education reformers want, after all you can always "look it up". No theory, no facts, no cultural literacy.
You can "look it up". This is what the people pushing education reform are preaching (and demanding since they're funding it with unbelievable amounts of grant funding).
Groups like the Gates Foundation, the Broad Foundation, Microsoft, Apple, Pearson education. So you look up the information on your IPad/Phone which has a Microsoft app installed. You then take a test from Pearson Education, using a Microsoft program, on an Apple computer. All this is supervised by people who are graduates of the Broad Academy for Superintendents.
I also like the idiocracy reference. I see more dumb arses having kids without the ability to provide and educate them.
Coupled by anti-science agendas by state legislatures (I'm calling you out South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kansas and Texas) half this country is doomed to be stupid.
About ten years ago, when I was teaching my second year of "Weather and Climate" in the local community college, I gave my students a little verbal quiz. I told them that this is a class in the geography department and that they need to have basic geography knowledge.
Saying that Japan was an important trading partner with us, I asked for the students to point it out on a wall map. Only a handful could. Then, being the age that they are, and that some of them may don a uniform and fight in the military in Iraq, to show on a map where that country is. Again, just a couple. I also asked where Uruguay is. Nobody got that one!
And . . . these are college students! Sad. Very sad.
About ten years ago, when I was teaching my second year of "Weather and Climate" in the local community college, I gave my students a little verbal quiz. I told them that this is a class in the geography department and that they need to have basic geography knowledge.
Saying that Japan was an important trading partner with us, I asked for the students to point it out on a wall map. Only a handful could. Then, being the age that they are, and that some of them may don a uniform and fight in the military in Iraq, to show on a map where that country is. Again, just a couple. I also asked where Uruguay is. Nobody got that one!
And . . . these are college students! Sad. Very sad.
To be fair, it was community college. That's a representation of the lowest quality college students... not the entire population of college students.
About ten years ago, when I was teaching my second year of "Weather and Climate" in the local community college, I gave my students a little verbal quiz. I told them that this is a class in the geography department and that they need to have basic geography knowledge.
Saying that Japan was an important trading partner with us, I asked for the students to point it out on a wall map. Only a handful could. Then, being the age that they are, and that some of them may don a uniform and fight in the military in Iraq, to show on a map where that country is. Again, just a couple. I also asked where Uruguay is. Nobody got that one!
And . . . these are college students! Sad. Very sad.
Yes, a sad state of affairs for kids in the public school system. The leaders of one of the most powerful Unions in the country is a disgrace..They push THEIR agenda and ask for more money! Their agenda is a failure and will continue to be.
The global stat's prove that American publicly schooled kid's are falling way behind compared to other other
countries. Some countries get it right and will continue to do so..unlike here where things get worse by the day.. I have to ask with all the money and funding a college age kid can't find a place on map! That's
sad.. Dare ask them which direction is North and South!
To be fair, it was community college. That's a representation of the lowest quality college students... not the entire population of college students.
Why should kids going to a community college be less educated than ones that attend a private college.
Most came from the public school system and can't afford state or private universities..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have to ask with all the money and funding a college age kid can't find a place on map! That's
