no time for science

No Time for Science

A new study from the Lawrence Hall of Science* paints a grim picture

of science learning in SF Bay Area classrooms. There just is not

enough time. 80% of teachers report spending less than an hour per

week on science, and 16% say they teach no science at all. One

principal in the SF Chronicle article points out that each day has

only 5 hours for instruction, so it is no surprise that some subjects

get the short end. And the subjects that are not tested are the first

to go, which is why NSTA has started a campaign to "Make Science

Count".

As a teacher of children who were way behind, I made similar decisions

to focus on math and reading. After all, these are the "gateway"

subjects - without them, you cannot advance. It was only after I left

teaching that I realized that by limiting exposure to science, social

studies, arts, etc., we were opening the gateway with a path to

nowhere. I find this concept best expressed as Engagement, Capacity,

and Continuity, a paper arguing that all three of these pieces are

needed for student success.

I argued yesterday against extending the regular instructional day.

However, we do need a paradigm shift that provides time for engagement

in science and other potential future careers. Eliminating testing is

just hiding the evidence. Instead, we need to face testing as a

reality and find ways to reach students with all the instruction they

need, plus the ideas that make that instruction worthwhile. They are

awake for 14-18 hours a day - I think we can find the time!

Link to Article | Link to Study

(*Disclaimer: I work on the same team at the Lawrence Hall of Science

as those who conducted the research.)