Olympic Boxers and Science Education

[tic tac man]

Not a bad idea.

I find the word "Elite" to be dangerous as there is automatically a lot of resentment associated with it.

There's nothing wrong with creating exceptional examples of anything, be they boxers, scientists or glassblowers.

The problem people have with this kind of thing is that it is observed to be a closed circle with only people from a priviliged background able to benefit from the system. Once you generate this kind of self-feeding cycle, it no longer serves its purpose. The only way to combat this is, as previously mentioned, have more better qualified science teachers.

Unfortunately, I don't see this happening soon....

Shane.

Is there a shortage of science teachers? I believe there is one in the UK, and its often reported on, but I don't think the same conditions apply here. I've certainly seen no evidence of a shortage here.

[diddleydoo]

Not a bad idea.

I find the word "Elite" to be dangerous as there is automatically a lot of resentment associated with it.

There's nothing wrong with creating exceptional examples of anything, be they boxers, scientists or glassblowers.

The problem people have with this kind of thing is that it is observed to be a closed circle with only people from a priviliged background able to benefit from the system. Once you generate this kind of self-feeding cycle, it no longer serves its purpose. The only way to combat this is, as previously mentioned, have more better qualified science teachers.

Unfortunately, I don't see this happening soon....

Shane.

Is there a shortage of science teachers? I believe there is one in the UK, and its often reported on, but I don't think the same conditions apply here. I've certainly seen no evidence of a shortage here.

Oh there are science teachers all right. But there are very few good science teachers. Hence my plea for

more better qualified science teachers

Shane.

[tic tac man]

Not a bad idea.

I find the word "Elite" to be dangerous as there is automatically a lot of resentment associated with it.

There's nothing wrong with creating exceptional examples of anything, be they boxers, scientists or glassblowers.

The problem people have with this kind of thing is that it is observed to be a closed circle with only people from a priviliged background able to benefit from the system. Once you generate this kind of self-feeding cycle, it no longer serves its purpose. The only way to combat this is, as previously mentioned, have more better qualified science teachers.

Unfortunately, I don't see this happening soon....

Shane.

Is there a shortage of science teachers? I believe there is one in the UK, and its often reported on, but I don't think the same conditions apply here. I've certainly seen no evidence of a shortage here.

Oh there are science teachers all right. But there are very few good science teachers. Hence my plea for

more better qualified science teachers

Shane.

Well, you are of course free to believe whatever your prejudices tell you to believe, but I was just curious if you had any evidence to back this up.

We agree there is no shortage of actual science teachers.
You need a honours degree to get into all the H Dip programmes, so its hard to see how people are underqualified.

Do you have anything to go on?

[imokyrok]

I think the science curriculum at Junio Cert level could do with being made far more interesting to encourage students to keep it on for Leaving cert. I've looked at the text and it's very dry. For example the incredibly ingrossing subject of evolution gets a paragraph and as far as I could see human evolution isn't touched on a all.

Some time should be devoted to examining the myriad of careers and sub-categories of science available also. Everything from environmental science to astrophysics. If students imaginations are not captured prior to Junior Cert it's generally too late.

[Oppenheimer]

I think the science curriculum at Junio Cert level could do with being made far more interesting to encourage students to keep it on for Leaving cert. I've looked at the text and it's very dry. For example the incredibly ingrossing subject of evolution gets a paragraph and as far as I could see human evolution isn't touched on a all.

Some time should be devoted to examining the myriad of careers and sub-categories of science available also. Everything from environmental science to astrophysics. If students imaginations are not captured prior to Junior Cert it's generally too late.

Indeed, I was kicked out eventually for asking our science teacher to "do an explosion" - plenty, as I later learned, of ways to do controlled explosions with no damage to person or property whatsoever.