science education issues

On a recent flight to Los Angeles, I was able to take the nice photo of the world outside the window, as attached. Notice that, even from this high up, the land does NOT appear to be curved? Well, I got to thinking that this OBVIOUS lack of curvature is a signature problem in all photos taken...

Science works because scientific institutions create environments where bad ideas can’t survive. On the other hand, bad ideas thrive in other environments such as social media, news media, and other forms of public discourse. There are many topics of importance where public opinion is...

[Link] Hate when politics intervenes in science

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_texas_public_schools_undermining_the_charter_movement.single.html If some groups wish to teach this stuff in their own private schools, they are the students they graduate will have to deal with the consequences...

Louisiana’s Latest Anti-Scientific Folly, on Video More at the link including videos. So lets review: dragons are real creatures, people saw dinosaurs and not so long ago and faith healers and witch doctors are scientists. Or at least it is premature to say they aren't. Got it?

Second Year Science Graduation Requirement Elimination: Governor Stands Firm Jerry Brown urges budget cuts amid California's $16B shortfall At the same time Brown is pushing ahead with a high-speed rail boondoggle whose projected costs have ballooned: California Proposition 1A, High-Speed...

Who'da thunk it? Legislators may strip education board of power Politicians actually demonstrating some common sense!

I've placed this here, because of the content; although, it could probably be crossed-posted. I guess if you can't get ID taught in schools, do the next best thing: attempt to 'question' what's being taught... Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/Evolution_teaching_provision_fails_first_test.html But there are more votes to come... gah.

Good news, everybody! http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/1118331.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3384352a11,00.html A Christian lobby group has sent 500 kits about intelligent design - the idea that a higher being created life - to NZ state schools, sparking debate about whether schools should teach creationism. The Focus on the Family group says...