Professors: How to boost science achievement in Florida

FCAT scores suggest Florida isn’t preparing its students well for science in college. Here’s what more than 90 science professors say the state should do: Get rid of the 11th grade science FCAT. Replace it with end-of-course exams. Require three science courses for graduation (four for Bright Futures eligibility). Ramp up professional development for science teachers with a campaign on par with Just Read Florida!

FSU physics professor Paul Cottles writes about this in this weekend op-ed in the Tallahassee Democrat. Here’s a recent white paper that outlines the professors’ suggestions in more detail. Here’s a list of professors who signed it.

Ron Matus, state education reporter

*

Comments

[lalexand]

I can't help but think this money push to get as many high schoolers in the advance placement classes in science is shocking. I am a middle school science teacher and I told many of my students to steer clear of advance placement as they filled out there freshman schedules. I did this because
they lacked science skills, couldn't read, had no interest in science and basically had skirted by middlle school science with sub par work or poor attendance. Guess what? Lots of these students received a letter from the high school encouraging them to take advance placement science. What was this based on? A fifth grade FCAT science test?
Certainly not the 8th grade as the letters were received before the 09 results. What did this do to my connection
to my eighth grade student? Please don't blame the middle school science teachers...

[HS Science Teach]

From the paper: "But if these leaders want to know what Florida's high schools need to do to educate students who are ready for college science, they should go to the experts — Florida's college science faculty."

Wake up Florida! Are MOST of our high school graduates going to college? NO! Now - if you want to know what we should do to educate those who will join the work force immediately after high school, ask the experts - Florida's high school science faculty.
Since I know I'll never be asked, I'll go ahead and offer a few ideas here.
1)Stop putting kids into college prep classes when they can't even read at the middle school level. It's unfair to everyone in the room.
2)The college professors want the kids coming to them to be competent in earth, life and physical sciences. Students who aren't going on to college should have a series of courses about "science in the community". They should learn about conservation, water purification, alternative energy, basic human anatomy, chemicals in pesticides, fertilizers and cleaning products and a respect for the unique ecosystems that abound in our great state.
3)As a high school science teacher, I'm insulted by the notion that we need to "ramp up professional development". I don't need more training. I need classes that are appropriately grouped. I need guidance counselors and adminstrators who back me and trust my professional recommendation when I tell them a child isn't ready for my course. We need to stop pretending that all kids are college bound. We need to stop placing kids in classes that are way beyond their ability just so we can brag that we "challenge" them.
4)We need to offer alternatives. Sadly, too many of our children aren't walking across the graduation stage four years after entering our high schools. Our expectations need to be challenging, yes, but they need to be realistic. I don't believe the college bound child and the work-force bound child NEED the same high school diploma.
It's honorable that the college professors wish to help us high school teachers better prepare the students they'll get from the students we have. I do feel they are short-sighted, however. Their proposal does little to address the needs of those children who will never cross their threshold.

[Pasco Teacher]

End-of-course exams are a good idea. They force the teacher to cover the required content and they ensure that the student has actually learned the material, assuming that passing the exam is required to pass the course. The FCAT could be scrapped and replaced with a requirement to pass a certain number of end-of-course exams.

[flateacher]

And some of our Florida Legislators still think we should require the teaching of creationism in all science classrooms. I'm sure that will help prepare students for college.

[Public Ed]

If Florida's colleges are concerned about students not being prepared for college Science, Math, etc. they should increase the requirements for entry into college. This would place the responsibility for preparedness where it belongs, upon the students, their parents, and the Guidance Counselors. Tallahassee Legislators want to blame the HS teachers for students not being prepared for college and the workforce, and they want to pass laws requiring Algebra II, Physics, and Calculus for HS Graduation.

This does not meet the needs of the majority of HS students that have no desire to attend a four year university. There needs to be more vocational courses in the Local HS such as Welding, Shop (Auto and Metal), Electrical/Electronics Wiring and Repair, etc. Pasco County Schools Career Academies seems to be a move in the right direction.