Science Education in America: Why I'm Homeschooling My Kid in Science

[Borodog]

http://www.astronomybuff.com/why-im-...nce-next-year/

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Getting that C- consistently really took a toll on him, he couldn’t understand what was going on. He really knows his stuff and always scored well on tests.
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Naturally, I talked to the teacher to investigate.
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It turns out my son IS a good student, DID understand the material and WAS way ahead of the other students in his comprehension of the material.
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BUT, he couldn’t organize his science notebook.
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“I’m sorry, he can’t organize what?”, I asked.
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“His science notebook. He failed the notebook checks. They were worth 100 points each, almost 80 percent of his grade.”, the science teacher calmly explained with a huge smirk on her face.

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A good read, but sadly typical. I've said it before and I will say it again: No child of mine will ever be fed to the public "school" system. All of you people who get so bent out of shape about some school district somewhere not teaching evolution or wanting to teach ID are missing the forest for a pine needle.

[Rduke55]

But you have a PhD in Astrophysics. How many parents would you think are remotely able to teach their kid science?

Do you think that that article represents something that cannot be fixed?

[Phil153]

Having been in both the public and private systems twice, I had a worse education in the private system than I ever did in the public system (this is Australia BTW). Apart from that the main difference was much nicer schoolgrounds and hotter, sluttier girls, which is important imo but irrelevant to the question of science.

BTW, where is the objective evidence that the private system is so much better? I don't see a huge differential in published studies of the US education system, and that's despite the fact that the children of those with means tend to go these schools.

[Phil153]

Read this for example:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/op...mp;oref=slogin

[wiper]

i'm torn. i've taught in public schools, private catholic schools, and now alternative schools. all had positives and negatives...

the science notebook thing sounds crazy, but it's coming from a scientist, who probably looks at science differently than a school system might.

in the end, it's usually parents that makes the difference. i can put the same amount of effort into 2 different kids, and the support system outside of school usually makes the difference...

[Borodog]

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But you have a PhD in Astrophysics. How many parents would you think are remotely able to teach their kid science?

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I know absolutely nothing about cobbling, yet I manage to procure top quality shoes. I know absolutely nothing about cattle ranching, yet I manage to procure top quality steak. I know absolutely nothing about building a car, yet I manage to procure one I like very much. I know nothing about making clothing, cell phones, televisions, yet I can get all. I don't have to mow my own lawn, change my own oil, or fix my own roof. I trust you see the pattern.

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Do you think that that article represents something that cannot be fixed?

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It can be easily fixed. End the government school monopoly.

[Archon_Wing]

Blah, I actually thought this "keep a neat notebook thing because it's worth the bulk of your grade" in high school was standard. But upon reading this thread, I guess not. Damn science teachers. -_-; It sure made me hate science though. :/ But it wasn't just science teachers either I guess.

[Phil153]

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Do you think that that article represents something that cannot be fixed?

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It can be easily fixed. End the government school monopoly.

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Another AC rant in disguise. Fabulous. Do you care to address the substantive point made in this thread - namely, that the objective evidence does not support your assertion that the private system is markedly better.

This is like your NASA thread [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[thylacine]

Okay Borodog, what's your hidden agenda this time?

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It can be easily fixed. End the government school monopoly.


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Oh, nevermind.

[Nielsio]

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No child of mine will ever be fed to the public "school" system.

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Amen to that.