Teaching Science Badly – and Well

[what are good science teachers actually supposed to do in class?]

1. Survive the onslaught from Mullahs

2. Survive the onslaught from the Khakis

3. Survive the onslaught from the masses

4. Conduct a balancing act between teaching students skepticism without offending those who demand unquestioning obedience (i.e., teach a new mindset without appearing to)

5. Do all of the above on very limited salary and with no support from the administration
6. Teach the students how to accomplish all of the above on their own

practical answer: zero error

Agreed. Course books should be revived, (a lot of good images- mentioning of online sites- laborities having `complete` equippments, etc) Teaching method should be improved but a more emphasis should be given to reviving Course Books, atleast where the teaching is not good a student would be able to get it right all by himself. I was interested in science, somehow I lost my interest, I`d blame myself but I`d also blame the course-books and teaching method. Today in good colleges,student go to Medical/eng universities not because of good teaching/n/course/ but because of their own rattafication qualities and hard-work, as they are supposed to be the cream of that city,so the cream goes to these faculties and the remaining nuts end up being like me!

Forget about science, they tell a student in pak-studies about the ideology of pakistan that it was made in the name of religion and that it was a genuine fear that after the britishers leave , we`d not be given fair chance in country`s politics and prosperity

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to our youth`s utter surprise, today President of India is a Muslim and Prime-Minister is a Sikh, so when our youth sees the reality, he gets confused. So all the muslims of india do exactly what we here do

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?? -- wandering around

no offense, by the way www.kidsastronomy.com ( a must see)

``In contrast, a recent survey in India revealed that a majority of school students see science as the most glamorous and interesting career to pursue. Many go on to becoming the world’s top scientists. This is a key factor in the emergence of India as a major world power, in scientific as well as economic terms. ``

The key factor its(indias) large population with potential of 200 million middle class families potential for Americas Wal mart to move in .....

[[[In older times the idiocy of the “aamils”, pirs, and mullahs and assorted soothsayers was accepted by just the ignorant and illiterate. But today college graduates, as well as the rich and powerful, now calmly accept this as high wisdom.

Good science education alone can change this.]]]

Dear writer

Sorry, I do not agree with your ideology at all. Rather your ideology is quite disturbing for me.

Yes, I admit to learn science is a good tool for human progress propectivel, but, to be good and fine humans science is not the answer to all problems or their solution.

To accept aamir, pirs or mullahs is absolutely not related to lack of scientific education.

My brother in law has done his phd in nuclear physics from Oxford and from Finland with two years fellowship from USA Pittsburg............he is teaching in Punjab university and has been promoted as associate professor of Physics @ just a very young age of 32 years..........

He has recently converted in to exremist mullah...........and I have seen so many people with scientific backgrounds and ended up being mullahs...............

So, my whole point is your concept is totally flawed about science and being mullahs.

Science is good for human progress, but, it doesn`t change the dogmas. If, they are out to be mullahs they`ll remain mullahs. If, they believe in pirs or aamils they will definitely do that with science or with out science............................Thanks

#4 sorry for typo

{{{Yes, I admit , to learn science is a good tool for human progress prospectively...}}

Teaching in the subcontinent is oriented towards biased versions of history, language and religion.

The phobia towards teaching science is amply evident, and deplorable. This must be corrected.

#5 Zeena
i do not know your brother at all and you are his sister but does not he has rights to do whatever with his education..
who is hooodhboy to judge what is good or what is bad...
Science and religion is comlimentary and should be supplemental and not ANTAGONISTIC...
Communism is against religion ,does the author suggest comunism to be more scientific?
Science is limited and its not a substitute for religion similarly any body like communists can think religion as opium of mankind.but would rather be a religous scientist than drab sterile abject concrete thinking scientist...

Science does not teach love morality sociology anthropology history lierature poetry mysticism philosophy comfort in higher being ....Science in its place only seems appropriatetoo much emphasis and hpe from itis exaggerated..hyped and has turned mankind more destructive the hiroshima and star wars missiles are prove of it....

Shah2 #7

I totally disagree with Dr.Hoodboy..........He makes NO sense at all. Very disappointed.

I have observed millions of practicing scientists like [medical doctors, engineers, mechanics, physics, chemists, biologists, botanists etc, etc, etc..........in Pakistan and also in USA graduated from highly prestigious institutions including world renounced ones and internationally recognized ones STRICTLY practicing their dogmas(their religions) , keeping a perfect balance between their professional lives and their religious lives............usually they incorporate them together beautifully without rejecting their dogmas.................rather they seem more solid and strict about their religious dogmas..............they do not consider religious dogmas as foolish set of ideas to which people are adhered for irrational or emotional reasons.

Science and religious dogmas rather walk hand in hand towards the betterment of humanity. Both preach to end human miseries for making a useful community and helping humans to solve their problems in this life world wise.

Dogmas and science both give people hope and belief with rationality in their own perspectives. One can`t REJECT or SUBJUGATE other @ the expense of it`s own stupidity or idiocy. We as humans truly believe that religious dogmas serve as a glue to bind social communities together. Science serves the same purpose to bring humans together @ the same platform for their well being................they have had been working together.............with the rationale of tolerance........there is a famous saying,`` Tolerance of intolerance brings intolerance. Intolerance of intolerance brings tolerance.``

Majority of multicultural dogmas are not per se irrational, they are based exclusively upon our rational needs.

Reason and freedom cannot solely based on science only , yes we do need religious dogmas for the implementation of our cultural values , of course for the betterment of our communities.

And Shah2

I believe morality, sociology , anthropology, even literature and religions are scientific in their real sense...............God knows what Dr.Hoodboy was thinking when he wrote this senseless article.

Dr.Hoodboy in this article reflecting nothing, but, his own state of CONFUSION and confused mind set.........................with no logic at all.

`The scientific mindset starts developing naturally when students encounter questions that engage their mind rather than memory.
Question is not allowed, this is very unfortunate but it`s harsh reality.
Teachers even in professional colleges have no guts to say, `ok I shall explain it to-morrow`
if you write something out of syllabus , it may be right and related to the subject ,marking will be low .
student are asked to produce what is written in the book .How can brain expand and learn new things !

Dr.Hoodboy is just confused.........the man doesn`t know what he is talking about.............

Dr.Hoodboy`s scope of mind is very myopic with limited field. Science makes us broadminded with open arms for all without subtracting other dogmas..................

And what is science? Science is NOT just sitting in a laboratory to perform some experiments like we used to perform when we were doing our O`levels and A`levels in chemistry, Physics and biochmistry...........or maths.........science is everything including our dogmas.................

I think thoughts by professor are right mostly some are not right.
Generally too much education is problem. More you study more one becomes foolish. Most of times science is not required and too much thinking can lead to problems. Now in all sciences Mathematics is worst science as it is difficult. And its really troubles ``KHopadi`` and its has no use. Now days people learning too much is problem. First they teach wronngly too much science then they feel they are entitled to good job and good salary. Now if they learn too much science and what is use to anybody. Its just ego trip and spoils you. I met a learned PhD maths person he looked normal but he felt too proud and said he needs to be given good job etc, talent etc or will go to foreign etc. Now if you go to purchase some thing in market one needs to know addition and subtraction. The answer is same even if one is educated. Too much literature science also not good. Only political science is worth good and interesting. Science makes you start thinking logically then you become unbeliever and then ask too many questions. I think nothing wrong now, things are going fine. No need to change if things are ok. Good afternoon everybody

``The demons of superstition can only be chased away by those who have learned science the correct way. But for that we may first need a major cultural and attitudinal change that permits real science to be taught in our schools. ``

Excellent suggestion an analyses.

Science is about ``uncertainity``. It is contrary to the absoluteness of theological certainity of mullahs and their followers.
Science is about making Conjectures and Refutations of these through empirical observations.
Science is base upon materialism. It does not conjecture entities that work on ``will`` or some ``spiritual powers`` that are amenable to human prayers.
Science and Mullahism cannot co-exist. That is why mullahs hate science. They would love to burn the laboratories that promote thinking about entities that do not exist in their books or follow their orders.
Turn around Pakistan into a secular state if you want science to flourish..........

Dr. Hoodbhoy -

[But there is another excellent reason to study science. Far from being a cold and soulless collection of facts, it is delicately beautiful with principles that are amazingly simple and precise. Yet, they are also incredibly powerful and universal. Exactly the same laws explain why stars shine, the blue of the sky, the beating of the human heart, and the flight of birds. Science grips the imagination and fascinates endlessly. It has certainly engaged me for most of my life and I, like most scientists, will never tire of it. ]

Beautifully expressed!

[Teachers must also be able to explain coherently what caused the overturn of accepted scientific beliefs, and what to make out of disagreements among scientists. It is extremely important to keep an open mind and challenge when necessary.]

An important point for later review.

#12 what a master piece!! great job ahmedmadani.:-)

``Only political science is worth good and interesting. Science makes you start thinking logically then you become unbeliever and then ask too many questions. ``

Madani Saheb, Kuch bhi ulta seedha aapke dimag mein jo aata hai keh dete hain aap.