I'm guessing a big part of it is our (the societal "our") apparent lack of interest in recruiting and hiring enthusiastic and qualified science teachers. How can we when we offer them dirt for pay? It's a pathetic shame how poorly we (again the collective "we") treat education in general and teachers specifically. --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
While global warming may be a "hot button" topic, I noticed that nobody commented on my observation that out of literally hundreds of projects-
ONE was related to astronomy. There were more projects having to do with popcorn and cookies than physics and geology, for example, combined.
And this in an area with a "world-class" planetarium, astronomy clubs -with nice observatories!- out the wazoo, even a couple of nearby universities offering astronomy programs.
We see these kids at star parties all the time, why isn't any of the enthusiasm catching-on? Is the star-party just an excuse to get out of the house for a night? Or did mom or dad MAKE them go? Why are they losing their interest as soon as the meeting is over and they are back among their peers?
Seth, has teen attendance at the planetarium dropped-off in recent years? Are they going for astronomy, or IMAX 3-D?
Where's the astronomy disconnect with our jr. high and high-school students? We seem to be exposing them to it, but it's just not "catching hold".
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