Frustrated with How Science Is Being Taught in school.....what Do You Think?

Updated on October 24, 2012
S.L. asks from Appleton, WI
23 answers

Hello,

I love asking all of you questions because of the wonderful, diverse responses from all over the country.

My husband and I were quite disappointed to find out how our 7th grade daughter is being taught science and social studies. The teachers don't "teach" the subjects or lecture about them they simply give the students a packet to work on with their textbooks. The students basically teach themselves by reading and answering questions. They also correct these packets during class and tell the teacher out loud their scores. Then at the end of the chapter they are tested on the material.

My daughter didn't do as well as she typically does on the first science test this year. I actually asked a question about studying tips a while back after that test. At the time I guess I didn't realize there wasn't any "teaching" going on in the classroom. I guess things click better with my daughter when they are taught or talked about instead of just being read. My husband is taking a different studying approach for the test this week and hopefully that helps.

We are very disappointed in how these two subjects are being taught or should I say not being taught. Our kids go to a small private school with about 15 students per class and we pay a lot of money for them to go there to get a great education or so we thought. So are your kids actually taught or is this typical for middle school? Thinking back to my years in school this is not how things were done. We had teachers explaining and lecturing during middle school through college so we could actually learn what we needed to know.

What can I do next?

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

If you're going to a small private school, I'm going to guess that the teachers teaching these classes ALSO teach something else. For example, at my elementary school, my 8th grade history teacher also taught religion, math also taught science, and english also taught reading. My guess would be that they don't have any real interest or personal investment in their secondary subject, and so the subject suffers. Don't get me wrong, that certainly doesn't make what's happening right, but it's a possibility as to what has happened.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Wow, really?
My kids go to a (seriously underfunded) public school but they still have a real science class in grades 6 through 8, and social studies is a real subject taught along with English, by a real teacher, textbook, lecture and notes, in their "core" class.
I'd bring this up with the administration, I mean, what exactly are you paying for?

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

That isn't how it is done at my school! I work as a Teacher's Aide in a Public middle school in my city..... there are about 900 students, grade 6-8, so about 250-300 in each grade.

The science and social studies classes typically have about 25 + in each classroom, and it is a mix of how the subjects are taught...... There may be some lecture, often with a power point presentation, with notes that they take, or fill in the blank notes, while the teacher discusses and explains it. This is often followed up in the next days with an activity (lab) or two on that same topic, with notes or diagrams that the students put into their "journal" .... (the journal is what they usually study for the tests from). Sometimes there will be a section from the book that they have to read and answer questions, or workbook pages on the topic. This all depends on the subject matter being taught. We just finished working on Speed formulas and graphs in science... a very tough subject for many of the students.

Last year I was in a 6th grade science class, and this year I am in an 8th grade science class......

This is also much of how the social studies classes are taught.. I've been in one particular teacher's Social Studies/History class for the last 3 years, and sometimes we work out of the book, sometimes we spend the entire class period discussing the material (he talks, asks questions, and engages the students in the discussion), and again, sometimes it is taking notes from a power point. Yes, there is some workbook/questions/vocabulary, but it sure isn't MOST of the lesson. I am also in 2 different 6th grade social studies classes this year, also, and much the same pattern is followed.... lots of class discussion, questioning the students, working on reading maps, some bookwork, some papers, but much more interactive. (6th grade is more of a World Geography, World cultures studies... 7th is Texas History, and 8th is US History, through about 1880 or so.....)

I'm sorry your daughter doesn't seem to be getting the "quality" education that you are apparently paying for.

(The reason I am in those classes is because I assist certain students throughout the day....I go to different classes all throughout the day... the students I assist are not usually the really bright ones.. they are the ones that are typically struggling with learning skills and other issues. The classes I am in are basic "core" classes, not GT/Honors classes.)

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

Wow.. In our schools they still actually teach these subjects..
They learn about a topic with videos, with reading, and with a hands on experiment or a project. There may be packets also, but it all pertains to the subject being covered. Then at the end of each subject there is either a project, a report or a presentation. Or all of it, as they go up in grades.

For instance they study Medieval times in 3rd grade. They discuss how so many people died from diseases, because of the poor sanitation and poor water quality.. So in science at that same time they speak about germs.. and then water. and how it starts from weather, then Oceans, lakes, streams.. etc.
Then this leads into health, and personal hygiene..
Then in Geography they will speak about the European Countries. etc.

In Texas Middle schools they for the 2nd time teach about Texas history, so they learn about Geology while in science class. They learn about the different layers under ground.. They do projects.. The terrains, the types of different Physical Regions. This includes, movies, they make a map, showing the different regions.. They do a report on what products come from these different areas.
Then they do a environmental study of a specific area.

I sat on a committee that was looking into adding more money for science in our school district. These courses are VERY expensive. Since they are copyrighted, you have to purchase the books, the work books and the supplies. No copies can be made..

Then get into high school and the Chemistry, biology classes are super expensive. These kits have to be ordered every 2 years.

Keeping up with the latest and greatest, is difficult. Thank goodness for the internet, so the students can do their research.

And then do not forget the annual science fairs held on campus. The top 3 from each campus go to the city wide science fair.. Always a very impressive display of the students work, from Kinder to 12th grade.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

Sounds like your teachers don't know how to teach the subject, so they rely on the packets to do it for them. You have sub-par teachers. Change schools - that's my recommendation.

Can you imagine every child going through this? How would we have scientists, biologists and doctors who learn enough to find the cures to disease if we put up with this kind of poor teaching in our schools?

Vote with your feet...

Dawn

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I think you should have a talk with the school teachers. My son is in a younger grade at a private Catholic school but his teachers are much more hands on in these subjects. For science they are doing a fun thing where each kid takes turns being "scientist of the week" and does an experiment for the class on Fridays.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I substitute teach in a very good district (public) for 10+ yrs.

Do we have packets, yes. However. We go through these together as a class to gather all info needed so the children have the correct information for uocoming testing.

The children get the info through notes discussed in class, videos where they are prompted to note, etc.

We are fortunate to have a solid school district with support. As always, parental involvement plays a huge part of helping your child understand and comprehend what's going on.

Good luck.

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R.M.

answers from Sacramento on

Ummm...sounds like you need to talk to the principal at your school. I would in no way pay for that! My kids go to a private school and all their science classes are hands on with experiments, a science fair for 5th-8th grade, and model-building with fun things like candy etc. to reinforce concepts in a fun way. My 5th grader's favorite class is Physics. This is an elective in addition to his regular science class.

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L.B.

answers from New York on

My kids are in public school. My son is in 9th and my daughter 6th. All the classes including science are taught via several methods, including hands on, lectures, books, power point, movies, class discussions etc...

My kids would not do well with the method your school is using - everyone learns differently.

I would have a conversation with the head master.

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Wow-as I was reading your post I was thinking "yep-science and social studies are really a casualty of the No Child Left BEhind act and we are really going to pay for it down the road." I have thought this since my kids have entered school and have sought to supplement these subjects at home. However....there is nt reason for these not to be taught well at a private school. You are seriously getting ripped off if you are paying a lot of money for this kind of teaching. I think you should make an appointment to talk to all school administrators about this. I would also get the other parents involved. I will tell you that even in our public school the teachers do a lot more than this. Sounds to me like your teacher is either too lazyor grossly unqualified to teach.

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☆.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I think in this case it doesn't matter how other schools teach science! You are paying good money for your children to attend this school. If you aren't satisfied with the education they are receiving have a (polite) discussion with the principal about it.

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I think the problem is no one knows how to educate kids in this new world. Back when I was a kid you learned or your parents beat you. I didn't like it but it was effective and easy. Now we are trying to educate kids nicely.

Much harder!

Add to that we can't let Jimmy feel bad because he is stupid so we have to make sure whatever we do makes Jimmy feel good. Then Julie needs to be challenged but not in a way that shows Jimmy he is stupid. Packets!! Except that throws both Jimmy and Julie under the bus.

Well that doesn't work.

In my kids school they have a large budget, they are in public schools. So they have different classes for different abilities. So no, we don't have packets. They have labs and work in class.

I think this falls under the parents much make up the difference.

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

That is ridiculous. That is not typical for public or private middle schoolers (aka Junior High) around here. Hell, it's not even typical for elementary students around here!

I would schedule a meeting with the principal for an explanation. Maybe first check out what's being taught at the public schools in your area for comparison. Maybe your private school is better.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

That's beyond lazy. Please raise the issue with the school ASAP. If the "teacher" isn't qualified to actually teach the subject, he or she should be replaced with someone who actually can do the job.

This is NOT how teaching is done, at any level.

My parents wasted a lot of money sending us to a Catholic elementary school where many of the "teachers" were not in any way, shape or form qualified to teach. My math teacher "taught" us pre-algebra and algebra much like you describe. She would assign the next section, we'd read it in class to ourselves, do some homework that night and then she'd leave the teacher's manual open on a desk the next day for us to check our answers against. If we didn't understand our errors we were to try to talk to a peer to figure it out because she was usually in the teacher's lounge smoking during part of our class.

Please don't stand for this - it is NOT okay.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like you're getting public schooling at private school prices.

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K.F.

answers from Salinas on

I would not pay a penny for that type of education in any subject. My daughter is a freshman at a very highly rated public high school. She is in Honors Biology and I thank God she was very well prepared in Middle School. It's not you Mama's high School Science class!

Science and Social Studies are about active learning, trial and errors, creativity and critical thinking. You simply cannot get that without teacher student engagement in fun interesting ways. I'd find another school ASAP.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Didn't you know that the only subjects they teach any more are reading then if they have time to teach something else they teach math? That's what it is boiled down to.

I am appalled at how the education programs are changing. They have the standardized tests that test in the area's of reading and math. If the students don't make the appropriate grades in those areas the teachers are terminated and someone else fills the void. They don't do anything else. If they have any extra time they go back and work on their reading again.

It is totally sad to me. My granddaughters 3rd grade teacher hates how it has changed. She sees kids getting held back that don't need to because they don't make the 9% or 11% increase on their testing. My granddaughter tests in the 97% in reading and in math and other areas she's in the 80's. Where is she supposed to go? There's not much room for her to improve.

I think this is also why they are bombarding kids with so much homework. They are not allowed to teach those things during the day so they depend on the parents to teach it to the kids in the evenings. It's not going to happen in my house that way. We have a life and don't have time to sit at home for a kid to do their normal school work they should have had time to do at school.

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

This sounds exactly like my 10th grade biology class 30 years ago. My teacher never had us do any experiments or dissections. We looked at a few slides under the microscope during the school year but that was the extent of the hands on experience. During class we would read a section of the book by ourself or with a table partner and answer the questions at the end. When he graded the papers we turned in, I swear he didn't even read them. He just assigned a grade based how he thought of you as a student (I always was given an A and my partner always received a B even though we had basically the same answers from working together).

I was frustrated because I had plans to become a veterinarian and knew that this class was not laying the necessary ground work. My solution, I asked my parents if I could switch schools the next year. Much better experience! Start looking for a better school right now.

Just so you know, the private school we visited as a possible future option for our son has a very active middle school science program. They were doing all sorts of experiments, built a life size model of a dinosaur skeleton from cardboard, etc. Since you are paying for this school you should speak up.

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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

This is the type of teaching that KILLS kids' interest in the subjects.

Science at any grade level should be hands-on. I can't emphasize that enough. They should be doing experiments and projects. There should be as many test tubes as textbooks, basically. If their science education is entirely reading material and answering questions on paper, they will have zero idea of the excitement of science. And nothing is more exciting than science -- if it's taught right, with enthusiasm and gusto.

Same goes for social studies/history. My daughter just finished a huge group project with four other kids, on the states -- they had to do research, create maps with icons, prepare an oral presentation (not long, but it's the practice that counts). In fourth grade they had "debates" about issues such as what it meant to be a Tory during the American Revolution and whether they, themselves, would be a Tory or a rebel, and why. These are the kinds of things your child should be doing, and much more, by seventh grade.

You are being ripped off, frankly. This school is doing you a huge disservice in two major subject areas. Don't take it. I would start shopping for another school immediately if the teaching were this lame, unless I got a commitment from the teachers and administrators that they'd change it NOW. But that will take too long for your kids to benefit. Since you can go the private route, shop around immediately, take your money elsewhere, and find a school that is ALIVE.

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

That's quite shocking. I attended public school and was educated very rigorously in an affluent town. My children attend public school and in elementary and middle school are educated much more rigorously than I was. In fact, when it comes to the annual standardized testing my eldest daughter consistently scores in the top 3% in her class, in the town, in the state. When compared nationally she's in the top 10%.

If she came home and described this sort of teaching plan, I would be meeting with the teachers immediately. I would want to find out what their thinking is on this, and why they think this sort of alternative method is acceptable. I would probably also request that the principal attend that meeting or meet with the principal immediately following, notes in hand from the meeting with the teacher/s.

This is NOT typical for middle school. There should be heavy participation from the teachers. There should be heavy interaction between students and teachers. Yes, the students need to do a lot of free-thinking exercises and working things out on their own, but they need the teacher to be the one to teach the core material. Reading it out of a book is not "teaching." There has to be a lot of back and forth, a lot of asking questions from the students and the teachers need to put forth questions, scenarios, projects, problem solving skills, etc. If that's not happening, especially in these two core courses, that's a major issue.

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C.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Have you actually talked to the teachers? I find that sometimes my son misinforms (unintentually) us about what goes on in school, in the classrooms. I am not saying that your daughter is lying by any means - I just find that we don't always get the WHOLE story. :) It really helps to talk to the teachers. I would definetly talk to the teachers and find out what is going on, and if that is the case, I would tell them how unimpressed, dissatisfied you are with this method of teaching and escalate this issue as necessary. I agree with you, this is completely ridiculous.

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D.B.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter is in 4th and at our public school. Science & Social studies are being taught the same way.

Yes, it is a new world for our kids. However, it's not about how they learn. It's about how fast information is available to our kids today. Back in the day all you had was a textbook or an encyclopedia to get answers to science or social studies questions, if you didn't know the answer. Now, kids have all of that information at their fingertips. I mean our smart phones can tell us the answers to any science or social studies questions in seconds. Studying has changed. The way we learn has changed. The way we teach and are taught are changing as we speak. Is it good to know when WWII happened, who was involved and who won? Absolutely. But, those who don't know, or can't remember off the top of their head, can look up the answer and get a great deal more in just a few clicks. Sad? Maybe, but we are living in a different world than even just 10 years ago. Teaching has to keep up with technology. Kids no longer have to be taught every little detail of an event. Kids do not need to remember long enough to be tested, or long enough to get through a chapter so they can move on to the next. They are learning the basics. Lectures that last an hour and require half of a notebook to take notes are no longer needed. I'm not saying its right. I'm not saying its wrong. It is just how life is now. Information has never been easier to obtain. Putting our kids through lectures because that's what we did, no longer works. Making our kids take notes on top of notes is no longer necessary. We need to give our kids the basics and teach them how to expand their minds from there. Most expand their minds (searching the web) all on their own. The days of lecture halls are gone....or soon will be. Lucky kids, but they have things so much harder, then we did, in other ways.

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

I hate "teach yourself" teachers. Its pure laziness. My kids need interaction on certain subjects and science is one of them. Science can be so much fun when taught properly. There is so many interactive lessons and activities that help kids understand certain concepts.

I would discuss this with the principle. If this is how they teach, I would move my kids to a different school. Your kids at this level should be engaged with their education.

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