Actually the teachers would have the money and time if we got rid of the massive amount of management and administrivia that holds them down.

The US could always impliment a system like the one we have here. At age 15 we sit state exams. If we dont pass. We cant progress to the next form(grade).

We can graduate the next year at 16 and go on to university, or stay til 7th form and get a partial scholarship into university depending on how well we do in the state finals.

The tough part is that the students are downgraded so that 50% of all 15 yr olds have to fail.

You can teach a lot of really good science with a blackboard and some chalk. I think they don't know how to teach -- I think they didn't learn science so they can't teach it.

Some high schools have already dropped physics class, and more are considering the same. Science just isn't popular anymore.

They must have had the same science teachers as Osama's minions.

HEY! What's more important, sex ed class, tolerance seminars, and the history of how labor unions saved America, or SCIENCE?!? Get with it!

FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRASH PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, I HAVE ONLY TWO WORDS: HOW DARE YOU!

Thats astounding. Here its compulsory til 15. And then afterwards highly endorsed.

My parents would have been looking at me sideways if I didnt graduate with chemistry, science, stats, and calculus. Mind you, the school would have somehtign to do with it. Ours was a private school with extremely high standards. No touchy feely liberal stuff in sight!

'something'.

As my children progress through high school, I am increasingly skeptical of articles such as this. The Honors Biology, Honors and AP Chemistry work my kids are doing at their public suburban high school is at a much higher level than what I had 35-40 years ago.

Forty years ago or so, only the college bound, perhaps 1/4 of high school students if you exclude those who would begin in junior college, would have been tested, and they had better knowledge than the entire pool does today. But, I would bet if you tested only the same elite sample that took these tests then, you'd find they're better prepared in science.

There is a solution:
Mo' money, Mo' money, Mo' money!!

(Kidding, I was just KIDDING. Of course I know the answer is more condom courses and tolerance training).

But more importantly, did they ask the students how they FEEL about science? And did they ask the students if multi-culturalism had been sufficiently integrated into the science curriculum? And did they ask the students if they felt oppressed by science?

Disappointing article... not a single example of a question from the test.

Anyway, I think my (1993 Arkansas public school) education was pretty good in the sciences... enough physics, chemistry and calculus to prepare me for engineering school, as well as a good class in AP Biology.

Ours was a private school with extremely high standards

When students finally get to the university, which is available to all high school graduates, a large percentage are forced to enroll in remedial classes in English, math, and various others. While the normal freshman classes are the 100 series, the remedial classes are numbered 0XX. Example: Algebra 076.

High school physics classes are being dropped in England, too. Parents, politicians, and teachers should be alarmed.

The evil corporations will make up the difference in education for those students lucky enough to get jobs. The rest of the students will continue to vote for Demoncrats and we'll get to watch that unfold through the rest of our lives. It'll be bad.

You're absolutely correct - things that used to be considered prerequisite for anyone entering college, such as basic algebra and English grammar, are now being taught IN COLLEGE. Is it any wonder that the intrinsic value of a college degree has fallen so far in recent decades?

Who will have any knowledge to run a country when it is their turn???

FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRASH PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, I HAVE ONLY TWO WORDS: HOW DARE YOU!

ROFLMAO!
You made my day!
LOL

You can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn and it's real hard to teach Science when you don't have money to buy the things you need so that you can teach. My wife & I have had to buy a copy machine & 3/4 of the Doc's & supplies that she needs to teach her class, simply because it's not in the budget.
Can you imagine having to buy a copy machine because the school only allows you so many copies.
Then you have parents that won't allow you to fail their child or else they'll have the NAACP camp out on the schools door steps until they copitulate to their demands or hell they might even threaten your life if you don't pass their kids. Then you have people like you that start ragging Public Schools. Before you start on the teachers again you need to speak to the State, County & School Board & ask why their teachers don't make as much as the School Janitor & how come they are not providing the books & supplies to teach your kids, at least then you'll be speaking to the responsible party. I was just bumping you Cinnamon Girl.