On Sowing and Reaping (Re: Science Education in Big Spring, Texas)

Thanks to the concerted efforts of some of the community, some so-called science teachers, and religious fanatics, all of whom are against science, both the high school and junior high school in Big Spring, Texas have been rated academically unacceptable by the Texas Education Agency.See the following for details: NewsWest9
Big Spring HeraldThe unacceptable rating appears to be based upon standardized test scores in science among ethnic and socioeconomic minority groups but it is difficult to say exactly due to the piss poor professionalism of journalists around these parts.The only thing I can think of now to end this travesty is to remind the populace that if there is no high school, there is no high school football.As I have stated from the outset of my posting on forums, the war to preserve public education in the US is right here in Big Spring, right now.I suppose that the evangelical/fundamentalist movement is gloating over this great victory. They have helped to prevent the disadvantaged from considering a career in science.How does helping the poor to remain poor fit in with the Sermon on the Mount?Free for all?Crossposted to WorldWideWord Dreamcatcher.Edited by anglagard, : clarityEdited by Adminnemooseus, : Add the "(Re: Science Education in Big Spring, Texas)" part to an otherwise pretty worthless "On Sowing and Reaping" topic title.

---

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

I think the problem lies in the fact that the general population does not realize how important science is to human progress. Genetic manipulation of crops and livestock have increased food production rate by god knows how much in the last century. Just about everything that defines the modern age, especially the latter part of the 20th and the early 21st centuries, is directly related to scientific progress.As an example, you could simply pick out any random person on the street and ask him if the internet is related at all to science. Chances are he'll either scratch his head or say "no".As for me, I'm just waiting for the next dark age to come.Edited by Taz, : No reason given.

Well, I gotta' say I can relate. My old high school been going down hill more and more over the years too. No one knows what to do. It's not the teachers, they are pretty much the same ones when I was there and everything was great; multiple validictorians going to major colleges, lots of kids passing the standarized tests for colleges, and full classes passing the tests for high school classes that counted towards college.As an aside, that is the god-awfullest newpaper website I've ever seen. How anyone can actually read the news with all the damn ads changing every 2 seconds... hurt my eyes just reading the one piece.

anglagard writes:

quote:

---

Thanks to the concerted efforts of some of the community, some so-called science teachers, and religious fanatics, all of whom are against science, both the high school and junior high school in Big Spring, Texas have been rated academically unacceptable by the Texas Education Agency.

---

Um...where in the stories you linked to do you find the justification for this? Yes, the second one mentioned the science scores, but how does this translate to teachers being "against science"?There are plenty of reasons why the school may have failed the science exam without the kids being taught something other than science. They simply may have been taught poorly.

---

Rrhain

---

Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

It would seem to me that a farmer planting corn is going to harvest corn. A farmer planting wheat is going to harvest wheat.Wait a minute. This isn't an agriculture topic, is it?Then how about a less worthless topic title?Topic title modified by Adminnemooseus.People, no replies to this message. Just give me topic titles that actually give some information about the topic theme.Adminnemooseus (Mooseus crankeus)

You are right, the stories alone do not support what I said concerning "the concerted efforts of some of the community, some so-called science teachers, and religious fanatics, all of whom are against science." The sources I am using go beyond these news stories and are due to my contacts within the community, which include my direct experience at the local junior college concerning the 'quality' of education the local high school graduates have received in too many cases. I could just reiterate what my daughter has told me about her junior high science teachers but since she is a member here I have asked her to post her experiences. To be fair, she has not complained to me about her high school science teachers, just junior high.Watch this space in the future for direct witness testimony.Edited by anglagard, : add "in too many cases" as some HS graduates are quite knowledgeable (just as some are appallingly lacking in basic skills)

---

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

While ignorance in matters of science may be prevalent and even encouraged in parts of the US, particularly the 'Bible Belt,' I think one should be cautious in inferring from this that this observation is universally true. From what I understand in at least some parts of the world, scientific illiteracy is being actively combated. I reiterate, the dark ages may be a more provincial phenomena that exists only until the US is militarily/economically conquered by foreign powers as the enemies of science education so earnestly desire.

---

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

I went to High School in Morro Bay, CA in the early 70s where biology was taught by the formidable Mr. Boudreau. Here are a few select quotations from the best of my memory:

quote:

---

This is a college prep class, therefore I am going to teach it as a college class. College is for adults. If you don't act as adults, you are out.

---

quote:

---

In this class, I teach evolution. If you disagree with evolution you don't belong in this class.

---

Or words to that effect. I took both general and marine from the guy and over 15 years later when I took general biology in college (for HS teacher certification, of all things) it was a breeze.My concern is for this community and the quality of education the average HS student receives. You think the online presence is bad, you should see it in print. Actually the local newspaper is a large part of the problem as they do not allow any letters to the editor that say anything more than how great Big Spring is, and how everyone here is far 'above average.'At least if the community was allowed to express their feelings and opinions in this matter via the local newspaper as in the rest of the free world, there would be an opportunity for dialog. As it is, evidently the Big Spring Herald exists to tell the community what to think and not to ask what they think.

---

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis BaconThe more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

While I attended Big Spring Junior High School, I had three different teachers deny some aspect of science.My seventh grade history teacher stated that she "[thought] the date for crossing the Bering Strait [in our history book] was too long ago."My seventh grade science teacher, after being badgered by a few members of the class said that she did not believe in evolution.In both of these cases, neither are too horrible and are merely stating their views as an opinion. Both are somewhat excusable.However, it was my eighth grade science teacher who did something of particular offense.She was reading a TAKS (state standardized test) review question that began "Scientists who believe in the Big Bang Theory...". She inserted "...are insane." without any provocation.Whereas my seventh grade teachers merely stated disbelief, my eighth grade teacher practically attacked a scientific theory. Mind you. all of the courses in question were advanced (G/T) classes.Even though I was taking honors classes, evolution was only mentioned once as a couple paragraphs in 9th grade biology.If you take all of this with the fact that Big Spring has some 33 Baptist churches in a town of 20,000 people (excluding the 5,000 in prison or nursing homes), it's not surprising that the children would do poorly in science.If someone is bombarded with assertions that evolution is false from both church and school, how do you expect them to take evolution or the rest of science seriously?

Texas, Louisiana, and Florida don't seem to be good places for young people to get an education in science from what I understand.Religion (specifically Christianity) and science can coexist, but where the religiousity is too fundamental, science seems to suffer.Edited by Deftil, : typed "Florida" twice, instead of "Texas"

Do you think that both Floridas are equally bad in this respect?

No, not at all. I think that Florida is probably much worse than Florida in this respect, but I think we can ALL agree that neither is as bad as Florida. I mean, seriously.(editing!)

In Mississippi, my son's english teacher said 'ain't' It seems to be to be rather a lack of ability to use, understand and appreciate logic. It's like logic and fundamentalism can't coexist, science has nothing to do with it.What I can't figure out is which causes what or are they both due to some other factor (like florides in the water)Enjoy.Edited by RAZD, : .

---

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

---

• • • Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click) • • •

I would say that fundamentalism removes logic from the equation making the person not appreciate the beauty of logic.So its not that they can't co-exist, its that they ain't supposed to co-exist. If you have logic you wouldn't have fundamentalism, if you have fundamentalism you don't find logic.