Here’s a news article talking about a so-called promising rise in science understanding among the public — we’re up to a whopping 28 percent now. However, junk science, such as creationism, is up too.
A panel of researchers expressed concern that people are giving increasing credence to pseudoscience, such as the visits of space aliens, lucky numbers and horoscopes.
In addition, these researchers noted an increase in college students who report they are “unsure” about creationism as compared with evolution.
My daughter is going into 9th grade next year, but this year she is struggling quite a bit. As a result, she might not get to participate all that much in the choosing of majors that is starting now. The problem right now is that she says she is bored and hates school. She’s sinking herself right now, because if she doesn’t get her grades up, she will be just as frustrated in high school. She will have to take remedial courses instead of the potentially interesting electives. It’s a vicious cycle that we’re trying hard to break.
Florida eighth-graders soon will be asked to pick a major for their high-school years, but some already question whether the new program will do much to make education significantly different for teens.
Approved by the Legislature last year, the initiative lets incoming freshmen pick a career track starting this fall, completing four elective courses in a specialty area during the next four years. Students are also allowed to change majors as often as they wish.
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But some students will not get to choose all that much.
Those who scored poorly on math portions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test will sacrifice some electives to take intensive classes to improve their scores. And those in the process of improving their reading skills may be able to roll intensive courses into their majors. As a result, those students may have less time and fewer chances to explore a career path.
Many thanks from all of us to Richard Ellenburg for loving science and passing that love to students early in their school careers.
Ellenburg said he tries to bring scientific wonders of his youth to today’s youngsters, who if they had their druthers, often would spend summers cooped up with Game Boys and MySpace.
His room buzzes with rock tumblers and critters he keeps in cages — rabbits, turtles and snakes. The classroom hums with motion, from the windsocks he hangs to the butterflies he brought inside to escape the recent cold snap.
Outside, he built raised garden beds that have won awards. He planted perennials to teach permanence, mint to stimulate the senses, annuals to highlight the cycle of life, and vegetables . . . just because.
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“His love of science is infectious and children catch the fever,” wrote Camelot Assistant Principal Catherine Thompson in his nomination letter.
Paige Lyle, now a sixth-grader at Avalon Middle, was so inspired by Ellenburg, she wants a career as a marine biologist.
“He always had something interesting to talk about and never minded lending a hand when things got messy,” she wrote.
