Science Friday: Those left behind and global warming
Every now and then I post a few nuggets from physicist Bob Parks' newletter 'What's New,' often about the disturbing collision of science and politics. (For those keeping score, science usually loses these days.) Here are two creepy items from today:
1. REPORT CARDS: A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
On Wednesday, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a report on science standards for K-12 set by 49 states, "The State of State Science Standards." Iowa, which doesn't set standards for any subject, was left out. The report was authored by Paul Gross with help from a panel of distinguished science educators. Predictably, evolution got particular attention. A year ago, with Barbara Forrest, Gross examined the "intelligent design"
movement in Creationism's Trojan Horse (Oxford, 2004). Only seven states got an A, and almost half flunked. Kansas achieved special distinction with the only F-. Ironically, the report suggests the No Child Left Behind law contributed to the low science scores by requiring testing only in reading and math.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE: THERE ARE NO ESKIMOS IN CRAWFORD, TEXAS.
There are, however, Eskimos in Washington, DC this week, where on Wednesday, they filed a petition against the United States with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Eskimo culture is dependent on sea ice, which is shrinking. Perhaps they will subpoena 4 senators (3 Republican) who visited Barrow, AK last year. According to a NY Times story from the Montreal Climate Change Conference, the Bush Administration remains steadfastly opposed, not only to new goals for reduction of greenhouse emissions, but also to any informal discussions that might even touch on the subject. The Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin, singled out the U.S. for failing to join in the world effort to limit CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has a bill to spend $10M to study weather modification. Someone should explain that we're modifying the weather right now.
I highly recommend a subscription to the free newsletter. Follow the link above. Lesson learned this week: Not only is the Bush White House underfunding education, but they're redefining education to include non-education.
1. REPORT CARDS: A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
On Wednesday, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a report on science standards for K-12 set by 49 states, "The State of State Science Standards." Iowa, which doesn't set standards for any subject, was left out. The report was authored by Paul Gross with help from a panel of distinguished science educators. Predictably, evolution got particular attention. A year ago, with Barbara Forrest, Gross examined the "intelligent design"
movement in Creationism's Trojan Horse (Oxford, 2004). Only seven states got an A, and almost half flunked. Kansas achieved special distinction with the only F-. Ironically, the report suggests the No Child Left Behind law contributed to the low science scores by requiring testing only in reading and math.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE: THERE ARE NO ESKIMOS IN CRAWFORD, TEXAS.
There are, however, Eskimos in Washington, DC this week, where on Wednesday, they filed a petition against the United States with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Eskimo culture is dependent on sea ice, which is shrinking. Perhaps they will subpoena 4 senators (3 Republican) who visited Barrow, AK last year. According to a NY Times story from the Montreal Climate Change Conference, the Bush Administration remains steadfastly opposed, not only to new goals for reduction of greenhouse emissions, but also to any informal discussions that might even touch on the subject. The Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin, singled out the U.S. for failing to join in the world effort to limit CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has a bill to spend $10M to study weather modification. Someone should explain that we're modifying the weather right now.
I highly recommend a subscription to the free newsletter. Follow the link above. Lesson learned this week: Not only is the Bush White House underfunding education, but they're redefining education to include non-education.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 6:25 PM
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