Re: science eduction

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@umd.edu>]

The first essay in Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World states the case close
to what I agree with: most Americans actually have a great interest in
science or science-like topics: hence the popularity of shows like
Mythbusters and the like. They just don't know what science IS. So they
are instead hooked in by anything that purports to be science or
science-like (and thus the love and attraction to pseudoscience in its
various manifestations).

The real problem with science education--indeed, with a lot of education 
in general--is the lack of teaching of critical thinking skills starting
at an early age and continuing throughout.

Ian Paulsen wrote:
> HI ALL:
>  I was wondering what are the main problems are in scince eduction in the
> USA? Why do Americans lack interest in science?
>

-- 
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Email: tholtz@umd.edu   Phone: 301-405-4084
Office: Centreville 1216
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
Fax: 301-314-9661

Faculty Director, Earth, Life & Time Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite/
Faculty Director, Science & Global Change Program, College Park Scholars
http://www.geol.umd.edu/sgc
Fax: 301-314-9843

Mailing Address:        Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
                        Department of Geology
                        Building 237, Room 1117
                        University of Maryland
                        College Park, MD 20742 USA