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”!
true. imagine if you were a high graduate and traveled back in time 100 years and brought back the knowledge you’ve accumulated. you would be considered close to a genuis … quantum physics, evolution (if you go back farther), even explaining the basics of a modern automobile.
i suppose it’s a good thing we’re never satisfied … even in dumb old s.c., right? 😉
“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.”
I’m not so sure about that, Rick. As partial proof, all you have to do is read your own blog. Several times a year you write about your students’ moronic answers to simple questions, such as this:
http://whenchemistsattack.com/2006/10/06/classics-of-student-literature/
If high school graduates, that are now at XYZ (I don’t want to blow your cover) have these sorts of answers to something they learned a week or two prior, we are supposed to believe they will remember something they should have learned several years prior. Granted, what causes disease should be common knowledge, not something you necessarily have to learn in school to know.
As a test, just hand out a slip of paper before class one day (or include it on your next exam) with the simple questions “what causes disease?” and “is disease preventable?”. It should take less than 5 minutes of class time. I think most would get the second question right. But the first? Answers would be all over the map: bacteria, viruses, dirt, cancer, sex, god, bad thoughts, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, government, “the man”, etc.
I hope I’m wrong. You up for the test? Perhaps some other teachers/lecturers/Profs can do the same. I’m dying to know the answers.
As partial proof, all you have to do is read your own blog.
Remember that the course I teach is optional for high school students; it’s not required for graduation – but is required for admission to nursing and some other allied health programs. The reason these adults are in the class I teach (the one almost all of those “Classic” answers came from) is that they never actually had it in high school,.
So why do they come up with these silly answers to “new” stuff? I usually pin this one on the fact that so many of these people try to juggle “full time” work with “full time” school and family obligations.
School gets pushed aside, since family and the job that puts a roof over your head come first. (Students usually need to be “full time” to get any significant financial aid. I think the way financial aid is awarded should be changed to be more friendly to older adult students and part-time students who simply must work while going to school … but that’s another can of worms entirely.)