More f-a-c-t-s about our failing public education bottomless pit.
msnbc.com
Students lack grasp of science, national test finds
One-fifth master principles
by final year of high school
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 — Only one in five high school seniors has a solid grasp of science, according to the results of a national test released Tuesday.
‘If our graduates know less about science than their predecessors four years ago, then our hopes for a strong 21st century work force are dimming just when we need them most.’
ONLY ABOUT half know even the basics, and that figure plummets for minority students.
The 12th-graders who took the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress scored, on average, three points lower than those taking the test in 1996. In 2000, only 18 percent correctly tackled challenging science questions and applied their knowledge to real-world situations, down from 21 percent in 1996.
The proportion of those who knew just the basics also dropped, from 57 percent in 1996 to 53 percent in 2000.
Education Secretary Rod Paige called the decline “morally significant,” adding, “If our graduates know less about science than their predecessors four years ago, then our hopes for a strong 21st century work force are dimming just when we need them most.”
Gerry Wheeler, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, said he’s not surprised at the poor results, considering that schools have increasingly focused on reading and math.
“Our nation continues to shortchange our students in science,” he said.
Many science teachers complain that they can’t persuade school officials to give them the time or money required for training, he said.
“Teachers want to do a good job — they really want to see their students excel,” Wheeler said. “But we have to give them the support they need.” |
