ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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While it is certainly gratifying that there are wonderful science  
programs happening in some magnet schools, the "state of science  
education" is not quite as rosy as the NY Times article might indicate.

An October 24, 2007 Wall Street Journal editorial on the subject  
cites a lengthy study by the Pacific Research Institute of California  
schools, showing that that state's performance in science and math is  
declining, even in some of the richest or "best" public school  
districts.

Similar studies are regularly cited by the NSTA as well.

A simple, yet non-flashy, and often non-computer driven, solution to  
increasing students' enthusiasm and understanding of science subjects  
(even if it is "old school") is to provide opportunities for well- 
trained, enthusiastic teachers the time in each school day to present  
"real" science experiences rather than canned experiments and  
worksheets.

Unfortunately, given the strictures of "No Child Left Untested" or  
the minimal science requirements embedded in teacher certification  
standards (speaking as someone certified to teach science in several  
states) this is unlikely to happen anytime soon.  However, this is a  
service that institutions, like museums, as well as individuals, like  
scientists and science educators, can legitimately provide.

So while I rightly worry about , if not actually wring my hands  
over,  the "state of science education", I happily volunteer to  
provide and present additional science experiences for my local  
school district.



On Oct 30, 2007, at Tuesday, Oct 30     6:53 AM, Eric Siegel wrote:

> In today's NY Times in an article about inquiry based hands on  
> science learning going on in some gifted and talented programs, the  
> following quotation:
>
> Many people wring their hands over the state of science education  
> and point to the appalling performance of America’s students in  
> international science and math competitions. Yet some of the direst  
> noises about our nation’s scientific prospects may be premature.  
> Far from rejecting challenging science courses, students seem to be  
> embracing them.

----------------------------------------------------------

Paul Orselli, President and Chief Instigator

Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
1684 Victoria Street
Baldwin, NY  11510

<http://www.orselli.net>

(516) 223-1043  voice
(516) 238-2797  mobile







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