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Scientific Elites vs. Illiterates
Rackemup writes "An article at Technology Review examines how it's possible for the same education system to produce both scientific elites and illiterates. While the article is kind of hard on current Elementary school teachers (whom the author says are hostile towards the scientific studies because becoming an Elementary teacher is the only way to graduate from college without needing to take a single science course), he does raise the issue that if we gave these teaching positions the pay-level and respect they deserve it would be much easier to attract Doctoral-level people to fill them."
Hey... we can't have pro football players playing in some rundown old stadium for 8 games a year! That $500 million stadium brings in millions of dollars a year in tourism. Watt did readin and rightin ever due for us becides turn everywon into a gramaryian like on Slashdot?
Yah, you're right... noone's been able to mass produce science genius' ... oh wait I guess Germany did that in the 30's and 40's ....
"Madness and Genius are separated solely by Degrees of Success." -Unknown
Witness some of the complete witlessness of what people *think* is true.
Stars in other galaxies can have influence upon our lives.
John Edwards talks to the dead.
Fire, Earth, Air and Water are elements(in addition to the periodic table elements)
A heavy object will fall faster than a light one.
The earth is 6000 years old.
People don't know how the world works and sadly a lot can't be bothered to find out. And even sadder, you've got people who want to foist their ignorance on the rest of us as fact.
Washington state just authorized a college offering a degree in astrology. I kid you not. I took a community college course in parapsychology my senior year of high school. Encouragingly enough, the UW didn't award me credit for the class when I transfered there.
Check out how prevalent Urban Legends are and how easily people believe them, not to mention how difficult it is to shake people free of their belief.
Conclusion: People are stupid. Avoid contact with them at all costs.
Unless they're cute and good in bed.
Professor Goodstein happens to be very active with the Caltech drama club and the Pasadena Playhouse. (Or at least he was when I was there a few years back.)
I actually saw him performing Shakespeare.
I attended Caltech, where Professor Goodstein taught freshman physics. He was one of those rarities: a tenured professor that still loved to teach. I believe that he is honestly motivated by reaching out to people and watching the spark of knowledge kindle.
At that time, he was also active with the L.A. county school system, trying to improve science education for the entire system. (And that's in addition to being Vice-Provost.)
You might consider learning something about an individual before you stereotype them.
"Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." --Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)
"Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning."
"Not only that, I'm to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, behaviorally modify disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and T-shirt messages."
"I am to fight the war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for guns and raise their self-esteem. I'm to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance checkbook and how to apply for a job."
"I am to check their heads occasionally for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of potential anti-social behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for the cultural diversity of others and, oh yeah, always make sure that I give the girls in my class 50 percent of my attention."
"I'm required by my contract to be working on my own time summer and evenings at my own expense toward advance certification and a master's degree; and after school, I am to attend committee and faculty meetings and participate in staff development training to maintain my employment status."
"I am to be a paragon of virtue larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my students into being obedient and respectful of authority. I am to pledge allegiance to supporting family values, a return to the basics, and to my current administration. I am to incorporate technology into the learning, and monitor all Web sites while providing a personal relationship with each student."
"I am to decide who might be potentially dangerous and/or liable to commit crimes in school or who is possibly being abused, and I can be sent to jail for not mentioning these suspicions."
"I am to make sure all students pass the state and federally mandated testing and all classes, whether or not they attend school on a regular basis or complete any of the work assigned. Plus, I am expected to make sure that all of the students with handicaps are guaranteed a free and equal education, regardless of their mental or physical handicap."
"I am to communicate frequently with each student's parent by letter, phone, newsletter and grade card. I'm to do all of this with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a 45 minute more-or-less plan time and a big smile, all on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps in many states."
"And you want me to do all of this and expect me not to pray?"
You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
This article from Gallup is my favorite gauge of American scientific understanding. It is claimed (among other findings) that 79% of Americans say the earth goes around the sun, versus the 18% who say the sun goes around the earth.
This may make it sound like there are a lot of ignorant Americans, but it turns out that Germans and British give these answers in about the same proportions. (Maybe the French do better; they are curiously silent on that point.)
> When Thales was asked what was difficult, he said, "To know one's self."
> And what was easy, "To advise another."
Who gives a thit what Thales thaid? Tell uth what Thupport thaid!
Virg