Here’s one writer’s take on the state of biology education in schools.
[N]ot one in a hundred graduates of our public schools could state any evidence showing whether vaccination is beneficial or harmful, or describe how malaria, diphtheria, or yellow fever are acquired, and how they may be prevented.
The pupils have spent much time in learning meaningless words, but when information is sought concerning the evidence that typhoid fever is caused by drinking polluted water they remain silent. A pupil is rarely found who can state clearly how the fact has been established that bacteria produce disease. In consequence very many do not yet believe that disease is preventable, and so pay little heed to the laws made by the state for the welfare of its people.
Y’all could probably guess the time frame by the style of writing and the particular diseases named. The quote above was from Alvin Davison’s The Human Body and Health, written in 1908.
These days, I’d wager that closer to 99 in a hundred public school graduates do know that bacteria (and viruses) cause disease – and know that much disease is preventable.
The moral of the story? Whatever the state of our educational system, it’s never good enough for us. That’s no bad thing; we should strive to improve education. But – we need to keep things in perspective. Things are a lot better now than they were in the “good old days”!