Dumbing down science syllabus
 

This country really is going down the tubes :(

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Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

So the exams will be easier, the kids will get higher grades and in so making them look smarter,

Bad idea :td:

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

I think kids should be taught both "hard" and "soft" sciences... Not one over the other.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

It looks like the real education will take place in private schools, widening the gap between state and private pupils even further....

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Scandal.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Tis nothing new.

When I was at school (pre GCSE days) you had to do at least one science subject of which there were 4 choices, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and "Project Science". I did the latter which involved several areas of interest including Photography, Astronomy, Communications, Practical electrics, Metalurgy and a one other which I can't remember now.

Photography included making our own cameras and film right through to darkroom developing and framing a subject. Communications included Egyptian Heroglyphs through to Morse Code and Radio.

I found it a great alternative to "hard" science, for which I had no interest whatsoever.

What I think this latest thing is for, is to try and re-introduce some form of cookery lession back into the curriculum (all be it under the guise of science). Which given the microwave and ready meals is a skill sadly lacking in childrens upbringing these days.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Well, it's a decent idea to introduce "relevant" science but it should be to supplement the three core sciences, and to apply theory NOT instead of.

There's already a shortage of science students as it is.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

"Master the periodic table"..?

What's there to master at GCSE? You learn the halogens, the alkali metals and the transititions. If you do triple award, you learn more about ionic and covalent compounds, etc.

Newtons' Laws. How many people actually know what they are? Few, I should think.

Step in the wrong direction, as far as I can see. I emmensly enjoyed the DNA and human genome side of Biology at GCSEs and thought it was very worthwhile, so genetic engineering is fine as far as I can see.

Healthy eating isn't a science, it's something monkeys can do. With all this waste of time with 'Citizenship' and 'PSHE', can't 'healthy eating' be covered in that?

We might have a lot of 14 year olds that know that racism is bad, but nobody's going to teach them who David Blunkett is.

Teaching? "Healthy eating" lessons sound more like spoonfeeding to me.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Why? I've never come across any circumstance whatsoever where knowing the periodic table would come in useful.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Quiz nights? :confused:

I suppose it's useful if you are going to study chemistry at a higher level though.

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

In that case grab the co2 and put the fire out ;)

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

I've never found perpendicular bisectors useful outside of maths class, should I be complaining?

Or do you want to undertake some sort of massive educational rethink? ;)

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Errrr .... :erm: ???? What ????
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Never found them that useful inside of maths either ;)

I'm just saying that rather than say 'isn't it terrible they're dropping this traditional subject' we should be thinking about why children study particular subjects in the first place, and if we can make room for useful subjects like nutrition by edging out the, err, less widely required ones, that's got to be a good thing surely ??

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

Incog gets out her deckchair and the iced tea. :)


I want a deckchair smiley... ;)

Re: Dumbing down science syllabus
 

i guess it all depends what sort of job you end up doing..

i actually read this this morning in the metro (classy paper i know) I can understand the reasoning for those who really can't cope with "hard" science but I do not think it should replace the option to learn it totally