Hugh Bollinger / Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Bad grades

Two studies focus attention (again) on the state of primary education in the USA. Both point to serious issues in students knowledge and appreciation of science and geography and their future ability to work in an increasingly interconnected world. The National Assessment of Educational Progress provides a comprehensive perspective on geographic knowledge of grade school kids. In their new 2010 report , geography knowledge scores-- for the lowest performing students --in 1994 were 23 points higher at grade four, 7 points higher at grade eight, and 3 points higher at grade twelve when compared to the 2010 data, ie, they went down in the past 15 years. Likewise, the National Research Council released an analysis of overall science education that called for a major change in emphasis to focus on core ideas in science and to move away from just memorizing facts. The NRC says that one of the primary goals of science education should be "to ensure that by the end of 12th grade all students have some appreciation of the beauty and wonder of science." We're not there yet. [caption id="attachment_5789" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption=""Where is the USA?" source: Google maps"]

[/caption] Besides pointing to years of bad grades in science and geography ahead, the studies should offer insights when little Johnie or Susie comes home and asks "where is America"-- much less China. WHB

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Tags: geography National Assessment of Educational Progress National Research Council science education

Bad grades

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