Why are we falling so far behind in science?

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:32:37 -0400

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-science-quiz-americans-pew-20150909-story.html

American adults get a D in science; 22% confuse astronomy and astrology

Americans get a D in science.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Sep 10 at 2015 8:35 PM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:35:48 -0400

Follow the money. We have the most powerful military in the world - by far. We spend nearly 50% of the discretionary budget on weapons and warfare - and more than the next 10 countries combined. We spend tiddly-winks on education, science, research and technology (in comparison). We've chosen to be physically strong instead of mentally strong. We are far out of balance.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Sep 10 at 2015 8:37 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:37:23 -0400

My personal opinion is that some science is made up poppycock that kids can't rationale and therefore have difficulties remembering. My second opinion is the horrible science teachers, which is mostly based on my personal experience with hours pouring over chemistry books, study guides, and practice homework/examples just to be baffled by the completely unfamiliar material on the exam.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Sep 10 at 2015 9:12 PM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:12:18 -0400

SSgt Alex Robinson I dunno. We're about fund tens of thousands of Syrian refugees rather than fix our own house. You tell me.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Sep 10 at 2015 9:13 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:13:23 -0400

Here's a decent explanation:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text

There's definitely an anti science movement occurring now; the question is how long it's going to last. Right now, the biggest problem is in funding basic research.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-the-funding-decline-in-basic-research-20150428-column.html

Response by LTC John Shaw made Sep 10 at 2015 9:28 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:28:47 -0400

Long article, but worth the read if you are an educator or instructor, as I am.
Note the article has bold type on this:
"Because social class inequality is greater in the United States than in any of the countries with which we can reasonably be compared, the relative performance of U.S. adolescents is better than it appears when countries’ national average performance is conventionally compared."

http://www.epi.org/publication/us-student-performance-testing/

What do international tests really show about U.S. student performance?

International test results seemingly permit comparisons of student performance in the United States with that in other countries. From these results, reformers conclude that U.S. public education is failing. This report shows that comparative student performance on international tests should be interpreted with much greater care than policymakers typically give it.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Sep 10 at 2015 9:33 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:33:04 -0400

No. Scratch that, HELL No!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 10 at 2015 10:27 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:27:45 -0400

Does anyone remember when the Soviets launched Sputnik?
This country went on a science education and RD spending spree.
Completely powered by tax-payer money!
And the technological and economic advantages that the US citizens reaped were incredible!
And then we got stingy.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Sep 10 at 2015 10:46 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:46:57 -0400

Something I've noticed. Many of the science majors from the local university go on to work in sales instead of R&D. To each his own, but to me, seems like a waste of a science degree no?

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Sep 11 at 2015 2:15 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 02:15:30 -0400

well, when states like texas allow schools to teach creationism over actually you know real science, this happens.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 11 at 2015 9:56 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 09:56:41 -0400

Babysteps but sounds like some progress is being made.

Alabama's Science Standards Get A Makeover

Alabama's Board of Education voted Thursday to adopt new science standards. The state's current standards have been in place for a decade, and many teachers are looking forward to the updates.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 9:58 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 09:58:03 -0400

VIDEO GAMES

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 11 at 2015 2:20 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:20:42 -0400

Not justifying being stupid but who here uses Avogadro's number on a daily basis. The truth is no one uses these sciences routinely enough to stay mentally sharp. However after taking the test and getting 12 out of 12 - oh boy America - pick up a science book once in awhile.

However as a valid survey the sample size for the adult US population needs to be around 956,010 with 95% confidence level +/- 10%. With the current sample size its +/- 43%. Looks like we're not good at stats either.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 2:51 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:51:45 -0400

I would have to saw we lost our focus. Many schools teach that to be successful you have to be able to regurgitate from a textbook. They do not teach what to do when you do not have the answer... Or how to see if the answer is correct. It teaches that the only kind of intelligence that matters is the testing kind. This is because for a long time the only way to check progress it to have a test. Many parents would be upset if we gave them all tablets with data mining software on it but that would be the best option for a change. By the time they get out in to the "real world" they are primed to take a test. Most do not realize that they are being graded by their actions. Only now are we realizing that we now have better options to learn. Khan academy being a great example."We" also do not vector people in to jobs. If we were to set up a voluntary program to measure someones abilities and give a choice of job options that they are most qualified for bast on the abilities they have we might be able to fill some of the high skill required jobs that many do not even know exist. If you know that a job requires this certification you can aim for it. data mining could give our youth a big boost and a general sense of direction to see what awaits them. Even with so many education options many in the military end up waiting on there own education until after they complete their upgrade training. Unless they are doing school to change carriers or OTS I have not seen many do school until they require it.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Sep 11 at 2015 3:12 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:12:30 -0400

I think I mentioned this in another thread, I have a physics degree from UCSB, which always seems to be in the top ten in science. One class I had in classical mechanics had about 24-26 bodies. Only SIX of us were Americans. Kids aren't being raised to like science, in fact sometimes kids get beat up for being a geek. They want to act, sing, or be famous. Science even paying 70k, but nobody cares. Think about all the jobs we have that are filled by foreigners.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 11 at 2015 3:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:30:12 -0400

We don't have the hunger to do our best academically.

Response by SGT Apollo Sharpe made Sep 12 at 2015 12:57 AM

SGT Apollo Sharpe — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 00:57:09 -0400

Because, religion.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 13 at 2015 4:20 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 16:20:22 -0400

When 42% of Americans believe in creationism, a young earth, a great flood, and intelligent design we are only SLIGHTLY smarter than the lions share of a billion muslims. Many of those billion believe the same nonsense w/ the addition that mohammed took a redeye flight to heave on a flying horse. The evangelicals and moslems try to make fairytales reconsile with evidence based measured observations. Duh.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 10:07 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:07:57 -0400

There is a lot of reasons. In addition to CPT L S comments we have a society that has denigrated the sciences as a whole. We portray anyone who wants to pursue STEM as being egg heads an nerds. We applaud and encourage kids today to shoot for unrealistic goals like becoming a pro sports player. We give more credence to buffoons instead of people doing science and engineering.

However it's not all lost. What the society has failed to do the individuals now have access to a knowledge base like never before. We have things like the Maker movement where average people are learning how to code microprocessors like the Arduino and making various contraptions where only the mind is the limit. Hopefully this will be the basis that sets the stage that there is more you can do with your life than strive to be the next idol, or sports star.

Response by SPC Jesse Davis made Mar 17 at 2017 12:19 PM

SPC Jesse Davis — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 12:19:41 -0400

We have a political subculture that scoffs at scientific inquiry that doesn't speak well of their political/religious ideology; and a President/Administration that almost literally has no idea what it is doing. The people who celebrate this ignorance seem to think that, somehow, the US will still advance in these fields by raw virtue of ideology.

Going to be a rude awakening in a generation.