Is the US falling behind in math and science education?
Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas
Science Buzz is supported by the National Science Foundation.Copyright © Science Museum of Minnesota, 2004-2010, except where noted.
Science Buzz is supported by the National Science Foundation.
For those who believe that that American Math is too hard or just right, you need to do your research. The American Educational System is falling seriously behind, especially in math and science. Other countries view our K-12 education as an absolute joke. They do, however, like our colleges and universities. But as for the K-12 math and science, we have fallen, and are continuing to fall INSANELY behind.
Minnesota has a blessing on wonderful schools and some of the best performing students in the country. However step across the boarder into North Or South Dakota and you will see a vast difference. The funds we have are not available to those students, they ARE falling behind. It is a culture thing, why study chemisty if you are expected to work the family farm? We need to change the culture of America that these are important subjects no matter who you are or where you live....
Well, America should push all its people to "studie" better. In fact, (and this is coming from a student) I think that everyone in America should "studie" more often.
yes, and this is coming from a student. my mom tells me about how small my assignments are compared to hers.
i think that america should push its children harder in math because all they are doing is playing video games all day! we should make them studie harder and memorize more facts!
This article from Newsweek argues that America is NOT falling behind in science, that the fears are overblown.
I say propoganda.
By the looks of it, we need more English education than math.
It depends onthe measures of success you use. Science in schools is not the same as the process of science, although the two are often confused. Success on an exam does not indicate that the skills necessary to do science have been developed (such as critical thinking, observation, logic).
I think that our schools are falling behind significantly compred to the rest of the developed world. Take China, for example. Their students go to school almost full time during the year, and they are taught much more advanced math than many of our students. In my opinion, this is one of the main reasons that China is so far ahead of the United States.
Prepairing scientists and engineers may be important for national and economic security. However, there is a bigger picture of scientific literacy. Many critical questions in our society require familiarity with science. Science education is critical for the well-being of a modern democracy.
i think school is cool\r\n
I hope not. I'm just in kindergarten!
i think that kids are doing fine in math and science
From an economic perspective, education in math and science may simply be considered as a type of commodity. So, individuals in the U.S. may not be availing themselves of this resource simply because it is not perceived as valuable. Consider the typical student. What are the chances that he / she ends up working as a highly paid chip designer at Intel or AMD because of an education in math? Virtually zero. What about all those students in China and India? Well, they have a massive national infrastructure to build out compared to developed Western Nations, and their chances of getting a job related to engineering and / or science are arguably much higher.
The same phenomena applies to why girls are currently outperforming boys scholastically in the U.S. Boys may not have all that much to gain. Just take a look at the average Board of Directors...
math is bad
School is cool, but not when it's math and science and I have a B+ average! Take that Patricia K.
I think we are falling behind in math and science, partly due to our reliance on calculators. I am a nurse, and do my math in my head (most of the time), however I frequently see people in their twenties pull out a calculator to do a simple multiplication, addition or subtraction. Interest or fractions, I understand but we should be able to do simple calculations without relying on a machine.
Because somtimes our data is inccorect\r\n\r\n\r\nage:09\r\nname:Noah ********
because sometimes we don't listen\r\n\r\nreecie age 7
we are falling be hide because other contries are becoming more advace while we are staying the same, generally. We do not put forth the effort that most other contries do. we spend more time on sport and enter tainment then we do education, plus students to do day are to relient on technology then on good old fasion books and research.
I think they should get more teachers there\r\n
Our dear republican friends like to scare everyone and make them whimsical for a "simpler time" when everything was better (that is as long as you weren't black, hispanic, or female.) But the truth is our education system is great. The problem with those comparisons of the US and other countries in that those countries do not have an all inclusive education system like ours. Our course their high school averages are better, they weed out the bottom rung of their kids to other education options that aren't tested!
Education is not a "Republican issue" or a "Democratic issue," but an American issue. One needn't compare the US to other countries to find problems -- just look at how we're doing. One in ten adults dropped out of high school. One in seven is illiterate. Rates are highest among blacks, Hispanics and males. This does not, to my mind, qualify as "great."
Another big problem we're facing is the changing nature of the economy. More and more we are becoming an information culture. This means there will be high demand for jobs in science, engineering, technology and math. But only about 2% of high school graduates pursue such degrees in college. The US faces a severe shortage in these crucial professions. That is what is generally meant by "falling behind in math and science."
BTW, I believe you meant to say "wistful" rather than "whimsical."
I think our math and science eduction is doing just fine.
Maybe some states that have a warmer climate may be falling behind because students are consumng more of there time into being outside rather than focasing on their studies
I think people are to busy goofing of with video games esecially children.
I do not think our science and math education are doing well because many kids are failind required test and are not listenig in class so they are falling really behind in these educations
I'm not much of a math or science fan but maybe students in minnesota are failing because kids don't find math interesting enough to care
I think that our math and science education is just fine.
I think that our math and science education is just fine.
I don't really think our math and science programs are doing well. If we don't shape up with our programs, we might become a 3rd world country or less informed.
I totally agree with you. I think the reason why our country is falling so far behind in academics is because America as a whole has a more relaxed academic setting. teaching children (us) just a little of what we actully need to know. (just enough for us to survive with). Plus when you think about it school isn't taken as seriouly here in the united states as in other countries such as china or Japan. Honesly the U.S. has gotten to be a land full of slackers rather than a land of the free.
no
no, math is okay
NO I think math at our school is good and it is easy but not too easy it's just right...And it is very fun... \r\n-madi and meg
you think that math is just right, but does it challenge you and make you grow?
We are falling behind china in the production of engineers. It isn't as cool to be an engineer as it used to be. \r\n\r\nAn engineer\r\n\r\n
i don't think so
I think that math and science are for smart people; the problem is that Americans are dumb.
I think it doesn't matter. I don't like any form of math or science. In fact, i don't like anything at all.
I love math,and science is fun.
My son (who has a high "B" average) cannot get into the "honors" classes in his high school because they are all full and have waiting lists. When he finally reached the top of the waiting list at the beginning of the spring quarter, he was told that he still could not take the class because of a new state regulation; he can only enter the honors program at the beginning of the year. He did not start in the honors program because we came from a different school system and applications need to be turned in the year before to be admitted to these underfunded, understaffed, overcrowded programs. He is bored to tears in his "mainstream" courses and is becoming frustated. Yet, my older son, who is learning disabled, could get all the special help and individual attention he needed. I am glad that he could get the help he needed to work to his full potential, I just wish that I could say the same for my more "normal" son.
I think you people are not teaching black history enough. You guys only teach it on black history month I for one think that is so selfish teach more black history.
Go America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my friend and i think that our education stastics show that we r very smart and that we never spell anything wrong and that math is easy and we r very very very very very very educated compared too the rest of the world\r\n\r\nyours sinceraly\r\n\r\nanonymous brainiacs
i think our math at lilly lake elm. has okay math
i also think our math and fantatic connor sandige
it depends if kids work hard in science and math.
no no no no no no no no no i think that school is fun and easy but not too easy. its just plain good