Math and Science Education

After reading “How U.S. Failed in Science” (Nov. 8), we are disgusted at the quality of scientific knowledge possessed by most Americans. It is obvious to most of us here at Caltech that the U.S. school system is unable to teach science properly.

Indicative of this lack of knowledge, the sample questions printed in the article, as used by the National Science Foundation’s poll, show a lack of scientific understanding. Of the 10 survey statements printed, two were impossible to answer. Most of the others were very vague and subjective.

Statement 6, “The universe began with a huge explosion,” is known as the Big Bang Theory. Even though it is widely supported in the scientific community, it is only a theory.

Statement 7, “In the entire universe, there are thousands of planets like our own on which life could have developed,” is pure conjecture. The best telescopes have only been able to recognize dual-star systems in nearby solar systems. The resolution of current telescopes is far from capable of distinguishing planets in any solar system but our own. There is neither proof nor counter-proof of the existence of life outside of our solar system.

How can we expect people to answer these questions correctly when many of them cannot be answered? Perhaps the members of the National Science Foundation should themselves be judged before judging others.

MARK LAKATA & MIKE ROZAK, Pasadena