Question for the Scientistshere...

[Krill]

What should the purpose of science education be for the majority of school children? Why do some young people leave school with a 'gross and damaging confusion' of science? Why is science regarded as 'too demading' and to be lacking in 'relevance or excitement'?

So, what the **** are hte answers to these questions?

And yes, I consider that this thread going off topic is par for the course. Just make it entertaining...

[Solomwi]

Because kids today are pussies who aren't interested in learning anything that might require actual effort on their part. And god forbid we push the little darlings into something they might fail at or be challenged by. That could damage their precious self esteem. Go out and accomplish something, junior. Then you're entitled to self esteem, not before. Right now, you're a worthless, mushy headed ***** only interested in regurgitating the answers you've been spoonfed and getting your little gold star to prove to the world that you're good enough, smart enough, etc.

[onodera]

I believe that graduation exams should be hard enough to ensure a 50% failure rate.

[rah]

Damn, Solomwi, tell us what you really think.

[Wezil]

Club threads.

[loinburger]

The purpose of science education for the majority of children is to grow up with enough scientific knowledge that they won't fall for every idiotic conspiracy theory that rolls down the pike, so they'll keep getting their kids vaccinated and stop buying Hummers and stop voting down stem cell research etc.

[Jon Miller]

I actually think that some of the problem is on those of us who are scientsits shoulders. We aren't communicating adequently or something. Maybe we need sciencerap or something to catch peoples attention.

JM

[loinburger]

We've got Bill Nye the Science Guy.

[Lorizael]

I actually think that some of the problem is on those of us who are scientsits shoulders. We are communicating adequently or something. Maybe we need sciencerap or something to catch peopels attention.

JM

*blink blink* What?

[Riesstiu IV]

I think more students would be attracted to the sciences if more scientists would make the effort to create secret organizations bent on world conquest and held the world hostage with elaborate doomsday weapons once in a while.

[Krill]

The purpose of science education for the majority of children is to grow up with enough scientific knowledge that they won't fall for every idiotic conspiracy theory that rolls down the pike, so they'll keep getting their kids vaccinated and stop buying Hummers and stop voting down stem cell research etc.

Awesome, creating a new sect Can't fit that in the first essay I'm going to write though.

[Krill]

Where the **** is KH with his economic theories about education when you need him

[Blaupanzer]

Apparently ignoring you, Krill.

[Solomwi]

Damn, Solomwi, tell us what you really think.

I see far too much of it with my fifth grade stepson (who I love dearly and have a fantastic relationship with, just to set the scene), even though he's not as bad as most kids I know about it. It's far worse with math than science with him. He knows how cool science can be, and gets interested from time to time, especially with the physics of skateboarding.

Math is a different story. When I was growing up, any question I asked that involved math I should be able to do was met with "figure it out." I take the same approach. Where I enjoyed figuring it out, though, he can't be bothered, and will either throw out random guesses or try to avoid the question when I try to walk him through it. A typical example, in the car:

Him: "How much longer?"
Me: "Well, we're 120 miles away, going 80 miles an hour. Knowing that, what would you do to figure out how much longer it will take?"
Him: "Ask Mom."
Me: "What if Mom can't tell you? You need to divide 120 by 80, right?"
Him: "Just tell me how much longer, please."
Me: "What's 120 divided by 80? It's the same as 12 divided by 8."
Him: "Twelve. Eight. Banana. The Mississippi River."
Me:

[Lorizael]

You're trying to hold a conversation, do math, and drive 80 mph with your kid in the car all at the same time? What a terrible parent.