Letter: Lamenting the decline of science education

Friday, Sept. 1, 2006 | 7:16 a.m.

I taught high school biology in the Clark County School District for 30 years; the years 1960-85 could be regarded as the golden age of science teaching in this district. During that period there was a response to Sputnik and courses in science and math were high priority.

Teachers throughout this district were encouraged to develop creative teaching programs and to motivate, inspire and challenge their students to excellence.

Local schools had exceptional science programs, many with outstanding, nationally recognized science educators. Lab work was emphasized and each school had large, impressive science fairs. The Clark County School District was always well represented at the International Science and Engineering Fair; a number of local students were award winners in those annual international competitions.

Nationally, the Clark County School District was an outstanding district and at the forefront of leadership in science curriculum. Unfortunately, the decline of science instruction in the district began about 1985 and continues today. The decline began when district administrators with little science background became supervisors of science curricula. Their lack of enthusiasm for science education led to less district emphasis on K-12 science education.

Unlike the golden age, today's teachers are mandated to follow a lock-step curriculum that eliminates teacher initiative and creativity. Clark County School District science instruction is being degraded, by the dumbing down of the entire breadth of science curricula to accommodate those with reading and English language deficiencies.

How these changes will impact Clark County School District science instruction will be determined in 2010, when state graduation exit exams include questions on science concepts. I fear the end results.

Virgil A. Sestini, Las Vegas