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Some of the recent news about science education in the United
States has not been encouraging:
• New elementary school teachers are more than three times more
likely to teach English and math every day than science, according
to a poll by the Bayer Corporation, a science and research-based
company in health care and other fields. The same poll found only
six in 10 teachers said they were very qualified to teach science or
very qualified to answer students’ science questions.
• The United States ranks 17th among major nations in the proportion
of people age 18 to 24 earning natural science and engineering
degrees. In 1975, it ranked third, according to the National Science
Board.
• Less than one-third of eighth-grade students scored at least a
proficient score on the federal test in science in 2000, the last
time it was given. The scores were lower for students in fourth and
12th grade.
• Among parents, 94 percent say science is important for their
child’s success in a global world. Yet more than half say their kids
get less science teaching than they did, according to an Education
Department poll.
• More students are taking higher-level science courses, but the
number of certified high school science teachers is down, according
to the Council of Chief State School Officers.
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