There are many paradigm shifts on the horizon for both the United States as well as the world, there are two that I am optimistic about; one very general, the other very esoteric.
First, I am optimistic about the future of science literacy. For years, there has been a difficulty in getting people in the United States on board with widely accepted scientific theories such as the the theory of evolution and the Big Bang. In fact, Americans rank dead last in developed nations in their understanding and acceptance of these concepts. However, there have been recent defeats of creationist and intelligent design movements in Dover, Texas and Florida just to name a few. This bodes well for the future of inquiry. But these victories are meaningless if no one is interested in learning about the subject matter. Getting people excited about these topics fall to the educators, which has been a struggle.
In The Demon Haunted World Carl Sagan devoted a few chapters that were directed at the complacency of teachers for all grade levels when it came to their willingness and enthusiasm for teaching science to their students. He printed some letters from a class of 10th grade students who responded to a piece he had wrote for Parade magazine on that very subject. Here are just a couple taken from the book which he reproduced with the same syntax and grammar:
“Not all Americans are stupid We just rank lower in school. big deal”
“And if other countries are doing better, what does it matter,their most likely to come over the US anyway?”
“I can see why a lot of science teachers would get mad at you for insulting there job”
Dr. Sagan’s main criticism is that teachers don’t take the time to present the idea that the heart of science is not to memorize facts, but rather to ask any questions that come to mind. It was this discovery that made me a born again science nerd at the age of 24! My whole life people had been telling me not to ask so many questions, so when I found a community who penalized you for not asking enough questions, imagine how happy I was! Let books hold the facts, to be referred to when we need answers to our questions, and to be used to formulate new questions. I am sure that every reader of this email will recall hours in class while a teacher droned on in a voice that only fueled their own disinterest in whatever the subject matter was. These are the teachers who are responsible for Americans who are more interested in getting a BFA rather than a BS.
But I am optimistic. I know that science educators are getting much better at the medium in which information is given to the public. Sagan himself kicked it off with his mini-series Cosmos which became the most watched show on PBS of all time. This was followed by Mr. WIzard and BIll Nye the Science Guy. These men have inspired a whole new group of educators to be more patient, enthusiastic and demonstrative when conveying information. It has been an inspiration to me in my own teaching. While my ultimate goal is to teach life science to junior high or high school students, my current role finds me teaching Pre-K. I have had basically free reign to impart my knowledge of science on these children and the reaction has been outstanding! They cheer when I tell them it is time for science, and I even had one student run and pout when I told him science time was over. They may not be able to tell you everything or anything scientific about what they had been taught but knowing that a group of children jump up and down at the mention of the word science makes me feel like a worthwhile person and an effective teacher. It has even spawned some interesting questions such as “Why can we breathe when all the leaves fall off the trees?” and “How does gravity keep the Sun in place?” I even walked into the room recently and a little girl told me “Mr. Schmidt, you better remember ROY G. BIV and photosynthesis.” After these events, how could I not believe that the future generation is going to come up with the ideas that are going to once again put the United States on top of all other countries when it comes to technological advancements? But I am just one teacher, and these kids are young but I am optimistic that more teachers will have the attitude that will encourage some children to at least watch the National Geographic Channel more than MTV.
My second subject of optimism is that the Chicago Cubs will soon win a World Series. I know that some of you are probably smirking a little bit right now, as it has been exactly 100 years, but that means they are due, right? They have won the NL Central DIvision now two years in the row and finished with the best record in the National League in 2008. Their division that year was one of the toughest in baseball which can be recognized by the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers were the 2008 NL WIld Card team. With players like Carlos Zambrano who pitched a no-hitter and hit a grand slam last year, the immortal Ted Lilly ( this is news to me too but if you Google “Ted Lilly Fan Club”, you will find a website that more than supports my argument) and up and coming stars like Ryan Theriot and Geovany Soto, they are sure to be a force to be reckoned with for some time.
Many of you are from New England, and likely to be life long Red Sox fans. Think back to the time before your team and risen to the top of their division, with no World Series win for decades. Each year when spring training started, did you not have hope in your heart, and excitement in your mind? Did you not think that maybe, just maybe this might be your year? That all curses be damned? Then when your team finally won, did you not instantly feel like a more complete person because all the effort and perseverance from being a fan finally came to fruition? If there is any group who can understand the plight of a Chicago Cubs fan, it is those of you who were pre-2004 fans of the Red Sox. With Opening Day 2009 fast approaching, I feel like my baseball dreams might come true in just a few short months.
Every day I wake up and think about how I can be more enthusiastic with my students, not just with science but in all interactions with them. I know they hold my opinion in high regard, something I do not take lightly. I want them to know just how much I care about their future and to feel comfortable and excited when I tell them it is time to learn. I also wake up every day and feed my only superstition, thinking that if I just cheer harder today or follow the stats a little bit more, my team is going to have the good luck they need to win that day. I know that I am just one teacher, and just one fan but knowing there are many other people out there just like me makes me the most optimistic of all.
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Benjamin is originally from the Chicago suburbs and spent seven years in the Navy as an aircraft electrician. After marrying his wife, he decided to pursue a career in teaching, and recently graduated with a double BA in Natural Science/Psychology. He is planning to start a certification program this summer to become a life science teacher, and is currently teaching Pre-K at a nationally accredited educational childcare academy.
Benjamin lives in Carmel, IN with his wife and two dogs. He doesn’t mind Indiana, but really hates the Colts.
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This post is a selection from The Optimist Conspectus – an ongoing not-for-profit attempt to both quantify and qualify resurgent optimism. To learn more or submit your own sources of optimism, click here.
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