Good News - People are Becoming Knowledgeable about Science

I sure would like to see this test....I don't know of anybody that doesn't know this....This sounds like one of those tests that's so convoluted you can't understand anything....

If you check out some of the Amazon Discussions on religion, you can find many such persons.

That's okay. The same polling people also found that 5/4 of people are bad at fractions too!

That's too funny!

It's no wonder that we are in a position we are today....

That's okay. The government is working hard on this. 25% is a terrible number so they are implementing educational programs to push the number as close to 100% as possible.

In fact they have hired a number of sports professionals that are well known for putting 110+% effort into their work 105% of the time to help them.

You should have been an actuary for the government.

Wow, that's that's a 340% of total effort...... This should be a cake walk.

With all the stupid people around, it's a wonder the average IQ is 100!

I think you get a 100 just for taking the test.

The survey had a sample of "over 2200" people? That's a pretty small sample. I'm sure I could find some towns around here with no educated adults that would not know that. Where was the survey taken, how old were the participants, what was the actual question(s)? As much as I hated Statistics in my psychology course, it taught me to always question the survey before believing any of the data.

Must have been around DC....... The ratios look about right then.

True. Many there believe the world rotates around Washington, DC.

That tracks pretty well with the % of correct answers we see here.

A lot has to do with the down playing of science by certain religions.

To paraphrase PT Barnum,"There is a fool born every minute."

Remember Pet Rocks?

I thought that was the dumbest thing I ever heard,till I heard the guy that came up with them got filthy rich.

This was surpassed only by the guy that arranged a funeral for your pet rock when it died.

Of course, the rock had to be carefully examined by a rock doctor,and certified as dead, complete with a death certificate.

Professional mourners could be hired,and a burial casket selected, along with a burial plot.

Cremation was an option, of course, and your rock would be sent to your choice of active volcano to be recycled.

All of these services were of course, an an additional charge.

Another gem from PT Barnum:

"No one ever went broke by overestimating the stupidity of the American public."

That is proven constantly by politicians that are elected to offices of power.

Hero,

Can you prove it that " Earth Circles The Sun" ?

As I said, it seems to revolve around Washington, DC after all.

Very difficult for me to believe the poll result where 100% people are educated!

I understand 50% of all statistics are wrong.

78.3% of statistics are just made up!

78.3% made up, 50% (not) wrong -> approx 39% of made up statistics are correct?

So wild ass guesses are pretty good after all.

And 123% of statistics are exaggerated.

but its still FLAT!!

Today?

I think the tether is a more sadistic way to go as long as you don't tie the free end to anything.

If the free end were tied to something, it wouldn't be free anymore, would it?

Too pretentious,

CK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy

This, " a uniformly unthinking society devoid of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and coherent notions of justice and human rights." has already been well established in Washington DC.

How many Americans know where Canada is? That would be useful to know as well...

I'd be afraid to even ask the question.

Schools, in general have seemed to stop teaching literature, history, geography, and science because they are hard.

The moon landings were hard - in 1961/2, that is, which is when the ambition was declared.

The ambition today seems to be centered about one's self and the internet (i.e., Facebook, etc.).

Less and less of us are passionate about our people, nation, and historical and current events. When something happens around the world most people do not even know in what continent it is happening, let alone where to find it on the map.

However, most people seem to know what the Kardashians are wearing on a given day.

The Great Awakening of the '60s and '70s has given way to the Great Reality Shows of the 21st Century. The ruling elites find that very satisfactory.

I was observing my daughter doing her homework yesterday, and even though she is in private school, I'm seeing Common Core creep.

She wasn't understanding math problems like this.

25

+31

The teacher had explained a complicated process that involved drawing a graph on a piece of paper, and what I thought was a convoluted process to arrive at the answer.

Once I explained a couple of alternative methods, it became a breeze for her.

My methods were:

1) Look at the columns and add 5 +1 and 3 +2 to get the answer.

2) Count by tens, and then add the single numbers. So, 20..30...40...50 plus 6 equals.

She was able to solve all problems in her head, without drawing pictures. Some of these "alternative" methods of doing things, bring her to tears.

It shouldn't be like that.

But I think with common core they won't accept her correct head-calculated answers....she will have to know how to draw the pictures correctly.

We'll see.

I went to a meeting at her school, regarding common core; and I think they understand my position. It sounds like they are with me.

The state is forcing common core standards into private schools, in order for them to get accredited, however, that doesn't include the common core curriculum.

While some of it might be of marginal use, most of it is garbage, and her teachers will be hearing from me if they get into the useless stuff.

Common core proponents try to make the case that it gets kids away from simply memorizing answers, by taking a simple math question and turning it into an essay question. BS.

My daughter used her fingers to count in kindergarten, and understands the concept of numbers and what they mean. While she knows instinctively that 2 +3 = 5, she also knows why. Now that she's in 1st grade, there's no reason to back up and overthink what she already knows.

It kind of makes sense once they hit third and fourth grade when they start do geometry and algebra. My daughter once she hit second grade she had to be able to do long division and complex multiplication and that's in AZ one of the worst state in the country for education. Never mind the reading and grammar level she needs to have. Nothing like when we were kids. She's already doing research paper for her science class.

Common core curriculum is still rotten to the core so where is the "Hope & Change"?

There may very well be some things wrong with "common core curriculum"; but you have not demonstrated so much as one such problem. Get busy, if you want to be taken seriously.

The fundamental idea which I believe started Common Core was the standardize what students are expected to know at various grade levels across the states so when families relocate to another state their children aren't caught behind or ridiculously ahead of the other kids in the new school. Not a bad idea. However, now that the federal government and corporate educational literature organizations have gotten involved, the problem with common core has more to do with content than original intent.

I see at least two issues with common core. The first is the federal government inserting itself into education (whether it's the feds requiring states to accept common core in exchange federal dollars or through propaganda making the federal government look overly good). The second is what they expect the students to do, especially in the earlier grades. I'm all for challenging students, but their challenges are not helpful.

promoting big government and in some cases outright lies:

In questions regarding possessive nouns, a series of questions featured the nation, government and the president. Could they not come up with problems involving possessive nouns without resorting to propaganda? Here are a few examples:

1. (regarding the president mentioned in the previous question): He makes sure the laws of the country are fair.

2. That's one I consider an outright lie. It is not the president's job to see that the laws are fair. It's his job to enforce the laws.

3. The commands of the government officials must be obeyed by all.

4. The wants of an individual are less important than the well-being of the nation.

Arithmetic

Common core stresses abstract concepts of arithmetic even at first and second grade over mechanical manipulations and rule memorization. Here's a link to an article from the National Review:

The problem is not that students, including those in the primary grades, should not be presented the basic concepts of mathematics - they should be. But there is a difference between learning basic concepts and expressing the intricacies of true mathematical proofs that Common Core desires. Mathematical concepts require a high aptitude for abstract thinking - a skill not possessed by young children and never attained by many. What will happen to students who already struggle with math when they not only are forced to explain what they do not understand, but are presented new material in abstract conceptual format?

Here's an article with an excellent video giving an example of the problem with common core. Don't just read the few sentences in the grey box above the video link as you miss one of the key problems with common core.

Likewise, look at the complexity of the second grade problem in the image beneath the video.

I see no problem with it. Its called a word problem simple algebra. Maybe the problem is the parents are simply not intelligent enough to figure out the answers. Problem is Americans expect everything to be handed to them thats why we are getting our butts handed to us by a number of countries that use the same system.

You have no problem with what? Which problem are you referring to?

The first problem is a word problem with an answer that can be easily derived by dividing 90 by 18 arriving at 5. However, as the parent states, it would be marked incorrect as they want the students to draw 90 objects sort into groups of 18.

The second problem is also a word problem requiring simple algebra. But notice that this is a 2nd grade problem, not 4th or 6th or 8th grade.

I've seen those sentence structure questions, along with going through the reading material in the common core curriculum.

I have difficulty believing that the people that designed common core are that stupid, so the only other option that I can find, is that it is yet another means to push a socialist agenda.

The "truths" that are put fourth in those sentences, do not apply to the USA.

big stink going on in the State of Wisconsin, Yesterday morning on Public TV, The governor wants to throw out common core and redesign it but the teachers union is against it. (I believe Gov. Walker wants the teachers to be accountable)

But common core has only been in place for 2 years, so it really hasn't taken effect for results.

I do not know what the reasoning really is on both sides, but since Governor Walker stood up to the powerful teachers union in 2010, and then won the recall brought on by the public sector union in 2012...... I think they may be against Gov. Walker no matter what he does.

Again someone who isn't an educator in this case a governor. Telling the educators what to do.

The problem is, when its left up to the educators, then protectionism takes place.

That Also does not work. the difference between Leading, managing and educating are three different things, and to think an Educator can Lead or Manage, or an Administrator to educate is foolish.

Just like the deficit in Wisconsin we were (past tense) experiencing..... The Union said we should talk about it and discuss it, and discuss it and discuss it. all the while the deficit increases until the next elected official that will see it on the union way of thinking.

It comes a time NOT to pull the trigger, but remove the gun from the head.

Just like how the initial the common core created, Is it good or bad, all that I know is that since our tax dollars are being spend, Someone has to lead because letting the in this case the teachers union have its what its can be classified as fail at least fiscally, and educationally 60-70% fail.

To avoid this failure, Home School has taking off in Wisconsin, as well as parochial schools

As I stated before, someone has to lead. If its being done correctly.

I'm just disappointed that Common Core has only been implement for a short time (by a bought and paid for administration here in Wisconsin) only to be looked at changing again.

If there is something that they, and they as being the Governor and his administration seeing a problem, then I'd feel a lot better if he would share it.

BUT, what I feel it comes down to, is for the parent to actually take an ACTIVE role in their kids education, When this happens, this will offset the failure rate in schools, (Failure has a lot of metrics, graduation, competency, ect....) Then its all making the adjustments in ROI.

.

After all you know more than a teacher. So how many years have you put into teaching? What's your degree in MS in what? I that not. Just diahria of the mouth.

Apparently I do know more than common core teachers.

I don't know which country you live in, but I live in a country where the government doesn't issue commands that must be obeyed by all.

I see your point though. It's likely that I am wrong, and that statement has become truth.

After all, we've got teachers with degrees, that are pushing it, so it must be true.

Will this become another common core confusion, when another Bush gets into office, and the sentences change to, "The people have a responsibility to question government"?

Problems my daughter and most of her class mastered in second grade. The problem is the parents not the teaching material, teachers, or government. They are lazy and don't want to learn new things. Most didn't understand it when they were in highschool now its a bad thing to teach there kids. I'm working on a garden the dimensions are in feet my daughter in forth grade knows how to convert it to cubic yards and tons to figure out how much soil to use. You average adult can't figure it out. I constantly give her real life problems to figure out all with out a calculator. Which she easily does using what she learned from the educational curriculum.

You have a valid point about parents.

Don't forget about parent (singular) grandparents/grandparent and guardians/guardian of children who may not be living with one or both of their real parents. Some may be hard pressed to cope with taking the time to go back to school just to learn concepts foreign to them, so educators can dumb down the process.

I'm at a loss to see how a single parent even copes with children in school. Our schedule in Mesa was designed exclusively for two parent families where the mother stays home and can accommodate the insane schedule dreamed up by the administrators. Wednesday, early out. A week off here, two weeks off there, no school in summer, this adds up to THOUSANDS of dollars in child care.

Our fourth grader is being forced to un-learn everything he learned about math in the first 4 years of school. He's coping, but it's insane.

My wife and I both work plus I'm gone at least two days during the week yet I help my daughter if she needs it every night by using skype. My daughter is very active also dancing swim club and teams youth church club and girl scouts. She has to remain on honor role our she starts losing the right to go to her activities. We moved here from PA and started second grade here the system PA uses is about two three years ahead of AZ. They been using core curriculum also but my advance and for at least 6 years. She passed her third grade aims test at a seven grade level. The curriculum is like building something first and second grade the bottom floor the third fourth and fifth get the basics out of the way so by the time you hit seventh and eighth grade you able to use high math trig and calculus. Right now I tutor seventh and eight grade math for a couple kids from our church they are way advance then I was in eight grade maybe Senior HS. Main thing I don't like is no more text books everything is photo copied sheets form workbooks.

I salute your dedication.

Help her do the calculations in metric units and she will be ready for a world view of science and math. My son refuses to allow our grandchildren to use anything but metric tools on their bikes and projects so they learn to use metrics for everything, even woodworking.

I am not sure what Walmart stocks in nuts and bolts, but a major hardware chain in metric Australia is Bunnings. Sadly, they feature imperial sizes with only a small selection of metric.

The grief is that there is a generation that doesn't know if 3/16" is bigger or smaller than 5/32". They just know these "fractional names" but not what they mean. Surely you would think it easier to explain that M6 and M5 are bigger than M4. Yea, the M might be confusing!

It would be so much better if retail outlets stocked M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10 and M12 etc and held a much smaller collection of 1/8", 5/32". 3/16", 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" for the older buyers.

Heck, I was born and raised in America, and I still have to stop and crunch numbers to figure out relative fractional sizes smaller than X/16.

And to add to the confusion, below 1/4"-20 UNC (or is it UNF? Well, the last letter stands for Fine or Coarse, which is the relation of thread count to diameter), bolts and nuts are given 'number sizes', like 8-32 UNC or 8-36 UNF Both are a "#8 bolt," but one has 32 threads per inch, the other has 36. Then you have to figure out what size drill you need to make a hole for tapping to that thread size, or what bit you need to make a 'clear hole' that the bolt will pass through without engaging the threads in the sides.

I really mourn the fact that we only gave lip service to going metric in the early 80's. If we had actually given it a serious attempt, we might have been able to join the civilized nations of the world.

If any consolation, most drill sizes for the best metric tapping etc are imperial.
If tapping an M4, use a 1/8th drill (Nominally 3.2mm). I cheat ... I have a trusty chart on the wall with most sizes in all configurations and let the grey matter deal with the important things in life like sucking the shoe lace ends to extend my telomeres!



And in the above, look to see what countries have not embraced metrics, but to be honest, even Caterpillar spec sheets ex the USA are in metric with imperial in the less important text.

And let us not forget that the American Inch has been redefined to be 25.40000mm. Our measurements are now 'metric compatible' as the ratio metween American and Metric is no longer an irrational number with non-repeating, non-terminating decimals.

Maybe The OP article is correct and simply people of of the US can't understand science and in certain people shown throughout here math either. Core Curriculum once you get past 1st and 2nd grade actually does work, but I know the average American is lazy and shown by the OP to stupid to give it a chance. All the top states are using it right now with great success to bad the worst states are simple to ignorant to understand that.

Lazy is correct, as I stating earlier about Wisconsin, I don't believe that the problem is having a Core Curriculum if the reason its being challenge only a victim.

I believe what our governor is trying to do is being about to make the individual educator responsible for his/her competence without being shielded by, at one time a very powerful union, (and still are). And the Core Curriculum is being caught in the middle.

This is the problem.

When I was younger and in school, if I could take the easy way out, I did. And this was easier to do with poor teachers.

But its interesting, in college there where also poor educators. Being more mature, I was disappointed, Yet I learned one very important attribute from these poor educators. And that is when you graduate and leave school, Its up to you to find the answer, and this I found very important and has serve me well.

As I see it as an analogy, its just unfortunate, that the way its structured is the poor performing educators is the bath water and a working curriculum is the baby, that you have to throw out the baby with the bath water.

The teachers unions will kill common core.

They were originally for it, but we have to remember that the "memorization" that was being employed, was developed by the unions to artificially raise test scores...which led to increases in teachers' pay. They were actually catching union teachers passing out answers.

Despite the obvious problems with common core itself, lousy teachers are attempting to use the same old work arounds, and get the students to memorize the "processes", rather than actually learning anything.

Now that they realize that they can't rig the system within common core, and kids are getting lower grades, the unions in one state after another, are rising up against common core.

It's only a matter of time until they take to the streets. If common core is fully adopted, they will no longer be able to claim that more money, (for them), will make kids smarter.

Time will tell,

Walker basically spank the union in 2012, and it was surprising that there where quite of few teacher that was behind it. The union is more discrete now.

The younger teachers that are coming in, have been very energetic, because there are given a change, while a few of the older 'established' they are just waiting for their pensions.

but this is very sensitive, educators learn from experience, and how their teach the kids can also change. But there are two paths to this.

One path is they utilize what works best overall. This is understandable and is highly appreciated.

But the second path is where I feel we have a problem, and that is what the educator can get away with. ^{Almost like the student taking the easy way out, as I pointed out earlier.} With the educator knowing that he/she can't get fired because he/she is protected by the union.

And as stated earlier, it how are the metrics going to be measured. Also as I stated even a poor educator can teach you, but unfortunately, the student has to be mature enough to make the most of it, and as a preteenager or teenager, The maturity isn't there to be able to. And it is limited.

On PBS in Wisconsin, the Administrations are rising up because Governor Walker wants to try a different approach other than common core. And one of the reasons are is the costs. It would take tens of millions of dollars just to develop new tests and implement them.

But there really hasn't been enough information from both sides to present for or against.

It's just my opinion that Walker is just looking for a way to evaluate the educator....... and that is difficult. Because I don't believe common core should really be addressed or tied to it.

Unfortunately, tried to address the competency of the educator by bring it to the table and discussing it. And all that does is what I explained earlier, the union likes to keep discussing it, give the impression that something is happening until the next election where the next one is more in line with the union.

The the discussions are shelved.

Right on!

Florida Law on Drug Tests for Welfare Is Struck Down - NYTimes.com

Unemployment Drug-Testing Law Delayed | The Texas Tribune

Here in Arizona, as legal guardians of minors, we are subject to court action if our charges miss too much school. This information goes to the courts directly from the schools.

We must also provide a yearly progress report including grades, medical evaluation by a doctor and a general report on the well being of the children.

I doubt that any of this applies to worthless parents who still have their children.

Too bad.

Biological parent who abuse their children are more protected then legal guardians of children.

Hate to be drawing slightly off topic here.

When Governor Walker campaigned his platform was for fiscal reforms. I don't believe no one took him serious....... except the voters.

I was very surprised, after he got elected, he came out rather directly that he was going to address the public sector unions..... And to this day. they are doing their best to bring him down........ in his office when he was counsel man for the city of Milwaukee, some of his staff worked on his campaign during work hours...... and they where convicted.... And the opposing political base as well as the union is trying to tie him to a personal involvement. which 6 months ago the John Doe investigation concluded he had none.

Last week 27,000 documents were release to the public. And now, it's again being his opponents are trying to tie him to it.....

And what suffers here. Education.

And why? Its from the very people who claim they are trying to save it.

So far its fairly clean, but I don't think its going to stay that way.

The concept of consistent educational standards is a fine thing. It is true that some states are better at educating their children and children coming for some states are penalized when moving to others.

Common Core does nothing to bring those states which are behind, educationally, into line with the states which do a better job.

We have a 4th grader who is being indoctrinated into Common Core. Here in AZ it's given another, less onerous, name.

It is a step backward for all involved. I sat through a parent's class on CC math and it is mind-numbingly complex.

Mathematical operations are no longer conducted in traditional columns, but rather the student is required to break every operation out into dots, squares or some other shape in order to arrive at an answer.

it serves only to dumb down the process, not improve the student's educational experience.

that can be a good thing, but only to a certain degree.

School is also like a job. When the new guy comes in, he has a whole new approach to things.

If we have a common structure for education, this could stagnate education as well.

And I believe this could hurt in the shot run as well as the long run. I would just like to see teachers held accountable, to be able to reward them on a job well done as well as disciple them without the fear of union punishment. But its the metrics to do this that is the biggest problem.

Lets face it....we didn't need common core.

All we had to do was separate the kids that want to learn, from the ones that don't.

My nephew is 16, and he's got kids in his grade that are full blown gangstas, and some of them are 18 or 19 years old.........they are also scary, even to the teachers.

Not a great learning environment.

I don't really know what to do. When Emily gets confused on math, I just tell her the way I was taught, and she gets it. I feel like I'm going to have to run alternate after school coursework, just so she knows the old way of doing things.

I can already tell that we're approaching the point that I won't be able to understand what they want.

And she's only in first grade.

I live in Surprise AZ maybe it just the part of the state the school is in. My daughter's in fourth grade now they are far beyond dots and columns that was a first and second grade starter to help them understand the concept of addition subtraction etc. Now she into basic algebria and geometry. I'm sure it would be boring for an adult something geared for first and second graders. I like most of the system and my daughter likes and understands it and as long as she gets her honor role I'm happy. Its going to be a big mistake reverting AZ to their 1999 curriculum they are already behind two to three years. I guess we can always shot for being rank 50th worst state for education instead of 49th.

As long as you are ahead of Mississippi you are not last! They at least can spell their state name. Our grandkids in Payson are ahead by being in the Christian school but it is all relative when the public schools are way below the standards.

Just an update. My daughter just started 6th grade this year in a program following a curriculum setup by the University of Cambridge. Her curriculum is geared around advance math, science, and engineering. She's not alone out of 120 kids in her 5th grade class 90 were on principal's list and honors. 10 of them had perfect scores on the AIMS test the same one our governor did away with because it was too hard.

It's amazing they finally have a system in place that causes our kids to use critical thinking and they're taking it away and dumbing it up. They're also talking about doing away with homework and home projects. No wonder we have to hire foreigners to do science and engineering.

The subject are not any harder than they ever were, the teachers are just softer than ever. They have refused to challenge the students to expend the effort required to master a subject. And they will not stand up and face the parents and administrators when the school lowers standards.

I figure the US already knows - and control us politically (other than some rhetoric) and economically. We are essentially just another territory that provides fuel, water, wood and other natural commodities at the price dictated by the US.

Please explain why Canadian gasoline is 30% more expensive than the same fuel 20 miles south of me? Diesel at $148.9/l ~ $565.8/us gal. -- go figure.

Allow me.

http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/fuelsavings/2139.aspx

Taxes.

Also, your base price is probably higher because of costs associated with distribution.

Vancouver - most expensive fuel in Canada - ok I get the picture why WA is so much less expensive - great cross border shopping.

Even where I live, gas here in my "blue collar" section of the county, is about .10 - .15 cents per gallon cheaper, than in the "well to do" areas.