Ever wonder why Americans are so scientifically illiterate? (1 Viewer)

[Jack Briggs]

Well, the answer to that question is easy: Science is hard. That's why students in the U.S. score so poorly on science and math aptitude tests. So, remember, science is hard.
Get the lowdown here .

 

[Jefferson]

Gotta love The Onion that makes you laugh, not cry.

 

[RobertR]

Well sure it's hard! All my non-engineering classes in college seemed like a piece of cake compared to, say, Fluid Dynamics or Heat Transfer. But fundamentally, I think that science in the culture seems to be "uncool" with a lot of people. The "science nerds" in school don't get the girls--the "big dumb jocks" get them. Intellectually gifted kids face a degree of social ostracization. Popular periodicals blare unscientific nonsense that's also emotionally comforting to a lot of people. Bottom line, science isn't "rewarding" enough to make the hard work worth it.

 

[Keith Mickunas]

I think there's also a terrible problem with the way its taught at younger ages. Everybody is taught that its hard, and its not taught like other subjects at all. I went to school at a university that had a large Education program. Many of the students I met that were going into elementary education feared math and struggled with the basic math requirements in their degree, which typically was just one course in College Algebra. What does that mean their students will learn? Unfortunately its a recursive problem, until the teachers are taught better when they're in school, they can't teach the students better. Of course many parents have the same problem, their lack of proper math education makes it difficult to teach their children.

Science probably has similar problems. Plus another biggie that's totally inappropriate to discuss on this forum.

 

[Denward]

Math and science are full of objective truths. You have to learn how to get to the right answer, period. They're rigid and unforgiving.

Other topics have more subjectivity so there's a lot more wiggle room to get acceptable (or even outstanding) performance.

In school, I actually found math and science to be easier because it was clear when you were done. With English and History papers, it was more difficult for me to determine when it was good enough (it usually happened about 15 minutes before the deadline.)

 

[Michael*K]

I'd like to forward the article to my aunt who's a physicist, but I don't think she's read The Onion and probably would take it out of context.

 

[MickeS]

I like this little bit:

 

[Ron-P]

New scientific discovery.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=74477
How'bout a beer Jack?
Peace Out~

 

[Todd Hochard]

All my non-engineering classes in college seemed like a piece of cake compared to, say, Fluid Dynamics or Heat Transfer.

Just the opposite for me. English (or Lit), with all of the "what do you think the author was trying to convey here?" just didn't click with me. You know- the "his getting a drink in the story symbolizes his undying thirst for the truth of his existence." WTF? I always wanted to see the author walk in and say, "uh, actually, he was just supposed to be thirsty."
Heat Transfer, Fluids, Neutron Kinetics- all that stuff- as I learned it, I'd felt like I'd seen in before. It was a weird feeling, actually.
And, yes, having some sort of intelligence does seem to be "uncool." I didn't get it then, and I don't get it now. Whatever.
Todd

 

[Michael*K]

New scientific discovery.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf...&thrradid=74477

Does this mean Jack has to close his thread now? Shouldn't the previous thread be designated as the *** Official THE ONION SCIENCE STORY Discussion Thread?

 

[Joe_C]

Intellectually gifted kids face a degree of social ostracization.

Uhh, no clue what you're talkign about. In real life, smart kids don't become social pariahs unless they allow themselves to become that way.

 

[RobertR]

Intellectually gifted kids face a degree of social ostracization.

Uhh, no clue what you're talkign about. In real life, smart kids don't become social pariahs unless they allow themselves to become that way.

Actually, by "intellectually gifted", I wasn't referring to a mere A student. I was referring to truly GIFTED kids, kids so brilliant that they easily skip several grades, and wind up in social situations WAY out of proportion to their chronological age. Such kids need to have their abilities nurtured, not disparaged or feared or resented.

 

[Joe_C]

Yeah I do agree that that a radical fluctuation in social environment can create more problems...but only at first. It still depends on how the situation is handled by that child/teenager. Both my dad and uncle were considered child geniuses, and skipped several grades a piece. They directly inherited my grandpa's brains. He is/was a literal "rocket scientist" - aerospace engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, etc. He has like half a dozen different engineering degrees and designed the wingflap control system for the B1-bomber and co-designed the engine for the Saturn V.
My dad was like three years younger than everyone else in his class. My uncle didn't handle it very well, and became an arrogant prick (he still is). Fortunately, my pops fit right in and had a great time hanging out with his older friends. Two "intellectually gifted" kids who handled nearly the same situation in two completely different ways.
I just wish I had inherited the "genius" genes

 

[BrianW]

Barbie was right!

 

[Keith Mickunas]

Joe, my Dad and his older brother had a similar problem. My dad skipped two grades and graduated with him, and along with having differing directions in life, they've never been close. I don't know if they had the issues with friends, however they just don't have anything to do with each other.

 

[Jeff Kleist]

I would love to meet your grandfather

Anyone who helped bring us to the moon has a hearty handshake and thankyou coming from me. I may not have been alive for Apollo, but what was done by all the men and women involved in that program swells me with pride in my fellow man every time I think about it

 

[Jack Briggs]

Joe C: The first-stage F-1 engines, or the second- and third-stage J-2 engines? My hand is extended in spirit. Like Jeff, I have the deepest admiration for those who made the mighty Saturn V launch vehicle possible. I saw the bird lift off in person during the launch of Apollo 15. JB

 

[SteveGon]

Hey, this thread looks familiar!
Oh well, it's funny stuff and worth repeating...

 

[Ashley Seymour]

I think we are moving away from having gifted students advanced several grades and I think it has valid reasons.

New theories of eq emotional quotient are another way of looking at intelligence and the potential for having a happy and meaningful life.

My daughter, no a junior in college, was intelligent as a child (not rocket scientist smart), but I saw her social skills were predominant. She would play "Barbie" by the hour like a boy would play with toy soldiers or video games. She also took dance glasses and is now an instructor.

She has an August birthday so she could have started first grade at age 5. I decided to have her wait a year and start at age 6, on the theory that she would be more mature and have a greater advantage in dealing with fellow students etc. It has worked well and I would easily do it again. She never scored 1600 on her SAT's, but I think by the time she is 30 she will be earning over $100,000 per year. Don't know in what environment, but she is adaptable.

 

[SteveGon]

Since we're on the subject of science and humor...

Delphinologists have reported more than 7,000 cases of spontaneous opposable-digit manifestation in the past two weeks alone, with "thumbs" observed on the bottle-nosed dolphin, the Atlantic humpback dolphin, and even the rare Ganges River dolphin.
"It appears to be species-wide," said dolphin specialist Clifford Brees of the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, speaking from the shark cage he welded shut around himself late Monday. "And it may be even worse: We haven't exactly been eager to check for thumbs on other marine mammals belonging to the order of cetaceans, such as the killer whale. Oh, Christ, we're really in the soup now."

Go here for the full article.
Looks like we'd better start cracking the books - we've got competition!