The National Research Council recently reported that the United States’ leadership role in science and technology fields is slipping, and recommended “vastly improving” K-12 education in math and science. In the May 26 issue of Science magazine, an article on the U.Va. research suggests that at a time when schools are focusing on reading and math to beef up standardized test scores, this approach may ignore the importance of an early emphasis on science.
Tai has expressed concern that teachers are increasingly focusing their lessons to ensure better results under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Under the legislation, schools are penalized if their students don’t pass the required standardized tests and don’t make adequate yearly progress.
“Life is not a standardized test. We should use testing to help us learn more about how best to teach children. But kids are not being encouraged to go into science by testing,” Tai says.
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