The Choice Channel

“Sure, O’Brien has seen the numbers that show the poor performance by students on tests of basic skills. ‘The state is not doing well in reading and math,’ she said. ‘But that’s not because we’re giving too much attention to science.’ Quite the contrary, with no statewide high school graduation requirements, historically weak science admission requirements to state universities, and no statewide assessments in science until a couple of years ago, science instruction is on the verge of collapse. Schools districts have slashed budgets for textbooks, labs and specialists, neglected science curricula and, for a lot of kids, science became an elective.” (09/30/07)