Science In Action: Why don't we teach science?

Kids are born scientists. They want to know how the world works. They are curious about everything. They will need correct information and reasoning ability in the future to detect and avoid all the baloney that will be thrown at them (much of it pretending to be "science").

How can we best prepare them to deal with all the misinformation, confusion and error they will encounter?

Try to give them a feeling of wonder and excitement about the marvels of the natural world

Teach them that science is more than just facts—--how it works

Give them tools for critical thinking and baloney detection

Give them the ability to “do the math”

If time allows, provide them with some useful facts

I don't emphasize the facts, partly because the "facts" presented by many science teachers are so out-of-date as to be misleading. Remember, most teachers were trained in teaching, not in science. They foist an amazing amount of garbage on unsuspecting students. For example:

Discouraging review of the situation from Forbes Magazine.

Richard Feynman wasn't joking when he said science textbooks were UNIVERSALLY LOUSY! (his emphasis).

Textbooks have been found riddled with errors in a 2001 study. Its authors note, "Many middle-school science teachers have little physical science training and may not recognize errors".