Re: Survey of American Attitudes Toward and Knowledge of Science

From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Sat Jun 24 2000 - 11:48:35 MDT


altamira wrote:
>
> I read somewhere that someone did a survey of recent Harvard graduates, and
> only a small per cent of them could explain why there are seasons (summer,
> winter, etc.) on Earth. I can't really believe this is true. Did anyone
> else hear anything about such a survey?

No, but I am not terribly surprised. I remember when I was in the 2nd or
3rd grade, and the teachers started doing astronomy. I was big into
astronomy at that age, and knew quite a lot. When the teachers got to
explaining why there are seasons, they claimed it was because the earth
moved closer and farther from the sun in its orbit, whereupon I stood up
and told them they were wrong and proceeded to explain what really
caused the seasons. I got told to shut up and I was sent to the
principals office... and people wonder why I don't have much respect for
teachers in america...



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