PLN 21

While going through the articles on the 2 cents worth blog I found an interesting one titled How Much does this Really Matter? . The article talks about how the U.S. one of the most prosperous nations on the planet don’t even know basic elementary and middle school subjects. While going through a scientific organization put together polls and tests and came out with appalling results. It is said that 66% of the U.S. population does not understand DNA, “margin of error,” the scientific process, and does not believe in evolution. Also 50% do not know how long it takes the earth to go around the sun, and a quarter does not even know that the earth goes around the sun. Not only is this sad but it is disgraceful. No wonder why “Are you smarter then a fifth grader” can find so many contestants. Educators must be shamed to know that students they probably had taught are as dumb as a rock. In the article he also asks does all this really matter. Sure they don’t know elementary curriculum and yes they do not understand that the planet is indeed not flat. But does it matter; they are all citizens who keep the economy together. They raise families, they pay their taxes, and they don’t break the law (at least some). So in the long run does It really matter that they know that DNA isn’t someone’s initials. My personal opinion is that they should know at least some of this information. The future is rapidly changing and so are the people in it. A lot of people do not have time to remember such facts but also focus at the task at hand. For example a person is in the army what should they rather know the scientific process or how to reload an overheated gun in a gunfight. Obviously the would rather know something that is more beneficial to them at the moment. You can’t kill a terrorist with a hypothesis and a procedure for those that don’t know that’s part of the scientific process). In our classroom certain students do show that they are eligible to be the next Paris Hilton all glam no brains. But others do retain their knowledge and do remember things from their first year of school. Hopefully our teachers are doing a well enough job to keep our brains afloat.