Rethinking Science Education

Now that the whole ID insanity has passed, I think we, as a nation, should rethink how science is taught in high schools. And possibly even earlier. Part of the problem is that many people are not taught what science really is. They're given a lot of facts and equations to memorize and that's that.

I agree with one part of the IDers mantra: teach the controversy. I think we should teach real science controversy though, and not conflate science with fake science.

So, on that note, here is an idea which has somewhat approachable controversies in REAL SCIENCE. As in, a large chunk of scientists believe both sides. Its falsifiable. Its testable. Its peer-reviewed by lots of articles and scientists. I need to check with the scientists I know about other theories in other disciplines.


Physics:
Newtonian Theory of Gravity vs String Theory



As an aside, how is it that I grew up in a biologist's house, became a chem major (although briefly), married to a biochemist and I'm more acquainted with the issues involving theoretical physics than either of the others?

The Hubris of the Humanities

Wow. Just Wow.

Among the engineer / science / tech geeks I know, we've discussed this a lot. In general, most of them feel that at a minimum calculus should be a national requirement for a college degree. Many science people I know believe that those who studied humanities still need to prove themselves... that a humanities major is "easy" since "all" you have to do is read and write; skills that students have been learning for years. In the sciences, they are still learning the building blocks for research in college AND the students usually need to turn out research for graduation. So, by the end of college, humanities and science majors are on par, but not at the beginning.

I do not completely agree with this sentiment. I was a humanities major, and realize the different skills that I had to acquire in college. However, I started out as a chemistry major and had a full year of science, math and computer science at the college level.

Now Kristof expounds the two class system, of which few people transcend: the science geeks and the humanities geeks. Some of the great quotes:

"Now you can't turn around in the Times newsroom without bumping into polyglots who come and go talking of Michelangelo. But it took forever to turn up someone confident in his calculus - in the science section."

"In the U.S. and most of the Western world, it's considered barbaric in educated circles to be unfamiliar with Plato or Monet or Dickens, but quite natural to be oblivious of quarks and chi-squares."

"But there's an even larger challenge than anti-intellectualism. And that's the skewed intellectualism of those who believe that a person can become sophisticated on a diet of poetry, philosophy and history, unleavened by statistics or chromosomes. That's the hubris of the humanities."

Times Select Required Link

A Little Confession

I hate to work out.

It seems so... pointless. I mean, yes, you "get into better shape" and improve your overall fitness. But I just can't get into it.

I *LOVE* to train.

When there's a goal - prepare for a tournament, a meet, a game, I'm all for it. I need to improve something or many somethings to a certain level by then. I can set a goal and a training schedule and improve my condition, my fitness, my strength.

I *LOVE* being active.

Going for a bike ride, for a long walk, hiking, rafting, skating, skiing, and so forth, is a great way to spend time. But that's just being active. Its not "working out".

I hate going to the gym and trying to figure out what activities I should do to "get stronger" generally speaking. Aerobics seems to be pointless. I've tried it a couple of times. As far as I can tell, its doing complicated choreographed steps that use some muscles. I'd rather do 8 count pushups interspersed with running lines. I can lift weights, but, that seems so minimal when there's no reason/goal for it. I can run on the treadmill - ok, I can't run on the treadmill, I fall off. I can't use exercise bikes because I rarely get to the point of aerobic exercise with them.

I need to work out, but I hate it. I need something competitive to motivate me.