The Math Ed is all wrong, we try to teach kids rote memorization of 1000 specific things that are disconnected and so soon forgotten, instead of a clear understanding of just a few general things. This coming from someone who spent 10 years teaching secondary and now on my 11th year teaching college.
I didn't realize all the crutches I was teaching.
For example: we can do a lot more with distributive property than remove parentheses.
Vocabulary is important, but words are only signpost that point towards the understanding of mathematics without english words.
Many mathematicians wouldn't have a clue about most of the words that you would find in secondary textbooks today, so how important could they be to understanding math?? Votes: +0

Science classes are expected to perform lab experiments, which is similar to vocational classes (computer, shop, etc.), but class sizes are not limited like vocational classes. Try to watch 35 students all performing a chemistry experiment at the same time. Vocational classes have limited class sizes. Why not science classes? Votes: +3

So many factors contribute to this issue:
attitude towards learning in general
students need to "think" rather than follow a recipe modality
connecting the math classes with the science classes, and
why is the lesson important?
We have great teachers who are expected to do far more than teach and examine the lesson impact. Votes: +6

Where are science teachers? Where is the support for science teachers? Our district changed from a 1/2 year program to a full year program two years ago, but they had no money to support a more rigorous program. They have no computers for the classroom and science teachers have to fight for computer time with the other content areas. They also have no increase in budget. We had a science opening this year for a new staff member and the only candidates we could find were math specialists. There were no science specialists. Let's not even talk about the emphasis at elementary school where science is often cut out (unofficially of course) in order to emphasize language arts and math. Students enter middle school behind already and then we are left trying to catch them up with limited resources and time. Really, is there a wonder as to why American schools are behind in science? How many families and kids do you know that are spending spare time watching science or exploring science using the technology tools they have in their homes? Votes: +7

Having just reworked our state science standards, we are well aware of the " lag time" there seems to be for the focus on science education. Of the four focal areas of education- reading, writing, math and science- our content area is last to be revised.
We have to start treating science education as an adventure, a series of measurable observations on the world around us, rather than memorization of a collection of facts. Votes: +5

There are several problems with the American educational system and science education in particular. First, Americans generally do not value education. Teachers have to put up with spoiled children who don't want to learn. Secondly, there is little money spent to support science education so many teachers teach from the book and do few experiments which is boring. Money that used to be earmarked for science is now being spent on english and math remediation. Science materials cost more than materials for many other subjects but there is less money to use and teachers have to spend their own money. Finally there is little incentive to do well in math and science - the students who do well are often called nerds and what types of ecconomic incentives are there?

Votes: +6

I totally agree Votes: +2

education focus goes where the funds go, and there is no real financial push behing STEM Votes: +8