America’s Love Affair With Science
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Education, Science
American adults in general do not understand what molecules are (other than that they are really small). Fewer than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity. Only about 10 percent know what radiation is. One adult American in five thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth, an idea science had abandoned by the 17th century.
Yes, you read that correctly. One in five Americans think that the Sun revolves around the Earth.
Good lord.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 and is filed under Education, Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:08 am
While not surprising, I still find news like this extraordinarily depressing.
July 6th, 2007 at 11:42 am
One wonders how many of the one in five that think the sun revolves around the earth are in the 26% that still approve of Bush.
July 6th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
And yet, we are the most scientifically advanced country on the planet and, hands down, have contributed more to research, development and deployment of new technology than any other country in the last 200 years. But not to be a wet rag, it is fun to mock the country you live in - makes one feel superior and better about themselves. I’m sure the NYT contributes this to their continued decline in readership.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
We are…doesn’t mean we will be in the coming years. India is catching up with lightning speed, as is China. I think more than anything it points to our need for a more robust education system. How we get there I have no idea.
July 6th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Yep, JG, I agree. More of the Creationism, and perhaps even the sciences of the Dark Ages…
True scientists would become the alchemists of the 21st century, trying to hide their learning behind screens of mumbojumbo from the powers that be.
What a depressing thought.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
I have an idea. Allow lower-income parents the choice of sending their children to private schools that actually educate them. Right now, we have a racist and classist system whereby poor and predominately minority children are not given any option but the MISERABLE FAILURE of public education. Pouring more money into public schools does not make for a robust education system (if it did - we should have a bunch of little Einsteins running around.) Parental choice would.
July 6th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I stopped watching the so-called “Discovery” Channel years ago because the content has become so heavily skewed toward war and a pro-war theme. No one argues that by their very nature a missiles trajectory and bullets velocity involves an intrinsic element of science but why America’s supposedly most scientific educational program thinks a disproportionate amount of its programing time should be devoted to and take on the role of
mouthpiece for pro-war policy and the defense industry is beyond me.
And most disturbing about this trend is that a great deal of this programming is geared toward children. Now before you get your panties in a ruffle let me disabuse you of any idea that I believe America shouldn’t have a military or we shouldn’t invest in our defense–I do. I would just like to see the country put more time and effort into teaching our children science that will work to better our world than destroy it. People have the right to learn whatever material they see fit, whether that is blowing up stuff or groaning manly sounds while watching your favorite episode of “Deadliest Weapons” then so be it. Just don’t be surprised when you conduct a poll of American adults about science 20 years from now and a good number of them tell you that they think the Sun revovles around the Earth.
July 6th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Dos is right. Many of the countries who are likely to top the list have a voucher-type educational system, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan. Kids aren’t forced to go to a particular school that is mismanaged by public bureaucrats and teachers’ unions simply because of the district that you live in.
I agree. Now if only you could convince Hamas, Hezballah, the mullahs of Iran, the Saudi Royals, half the population of Pakistan…ect.
Don’t be suprised if you conduct a poll in Europe at the same time and find out that a good number of them believe that the Sun sets into a pool of murky water every night, because thats what it says in the Koran. Perhaps in this country too by the end of this century if people like you are in charge.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Of course Dos ignores a few thousand things. Those countries that Jimmy mentions also have actual public transportation that it is safe for their children to take to those schools. We don’t to a large extent. I always wonder exactly how those kids would get to those schools they’d choose, myself. When people like Dos and Jimmy rant on and on they only tend to prove that they know absolutely nothing about the real lives of many of those people they discuss.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Jim S. — Believe it or not, I taught at an inner city charter school in Kansas City. They have this long vehicle that runs through Kansas City neighborhoods and kids get onto this long vehicle by the scores and then the long vehicle would drop them off at the school. The city actually provided this service. Now several times I asked the guy that drove the long vehicle, “Please, stop dropping these kids off here ever morning. They get in the building and take up time.” But each morning, there he was distressing the yuppy neighborhood by dropping off little black kids in the long vehicle. So you are right, I know almost “nothing about the real lives of many of those people”, but I do know that a long vehicle is involved. What is that called…a bus!
July 6th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I can see why Jim S. might be confused. He used to ride in one of those ‘vehicles’, but it was a short one.
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:28 am
its very good to experience americans love towards science and u should provide more for students