On 2/17/14, 10:42 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 2/17/2014 10:30 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 2/17/14, 10:21 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 2/17/2014 10:13 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
1 in 4 Americans think the sun revolves around Earth


This one might be one of the most disturbing stories you'll hear all
day. Does the sun revolve around the Earth, or does the Earth revolve
around the sun?

The National Science Foundation posed this question to 2,200 Americans
back in 2012. The results were published Friday and 26 percent of
people
surveyed believe the sun moves around the Earth. (Via Discovery)

"The foundation says that's frightening, claiming that is why this
nation needs more money invested in teaching science in school." (Via
KUSI)

The survey is conducted every few years to monitor America's
educational
progress. But maybe you don't think 26 percent is too much to be
worried
about. (Via National Science Foundation)

Well, lets bring you back down to Earth, aka what some believe is the
center of the universe. CNET writes, about "52 percent of Americans had
no idea that humans evolved from animal species. This may be the 52
percent of people who believe that mayonnaise comes from the mayo
plant."

Back to the whole Earth-sun thing, those who answered the question
wrong
are more than late to the game — the first notion of Heliocentrism was
around the third century B.C.

http://tinyurl.com/ma9sl8a

- - -
The idea that the sun revolves around the earth is a deeply religious
concept...


or maybe too many liberal arts courses and not enough science and
technology. :-)





Once again, the liberal arts include all sorts of science and math
classes and, among them, astronomy.

I must have first gone to college in ancient times. During my first
stint after high school, I was in a liberal arts program. I sure don't
remember taking any science classes. Math, yes. Science, no.
Any type of specialized "technology" course within the liberal arts
curriculum had not really been thought of then. It's the primary reason
I quit. Things changed in the Navy. Educational programs, both within
the Navy and via approved civilian university programs were offered in
subjects I was actually interested in. That was the main reason I
stayed in the service for 9 years. All types of programs were offered,
most free to military members.



Science or math classes were required every semester in the B.A. program
I followed. Fifteen or sixteen credit hours equaled a full academic load
for a semester, and three or four credit hours had to be in math or
science, and you had to take a stipulated number of math and science
hours/courses for a degree. This was not peculiar to the midwestern
university I attended.

I was no math whiz, but I did manage to get no lower than a "3" or "B"
on required math courses. I did better in the science courses. I
remember taking two semesters each of biology and astronomy, a semester
of geology, a semester of anthropology, and a semester of physics, and a
couple of others I just can't recall.

I don't recall any required specialized technology courses, either, if
by those you mean trade-related courses. I did take a course in type
design and typesetting when I was chasing a redhead who was in the
J-school.