State’s Talent Pool Is Short on Science

Re “Young Scientist Lonely at the Top,” March 6: For 60 years California has not had the most finalists, even once, in the Science Talent Search for outstanding high school science students (despite having one-ninth of all Americans for many years now). But this year is a new low: We have only one of the 40 finalists! New York invariably leads with the most. This is no accident; New York--and most states--have science programs superior to California’s.

Last year California came in last in the National Assessment of Educational Progress test in science. Science teachers can, and often do, earn much more elsewhere. About half of our California high school physics teachers do not even have a minor in that subject. Unless parents become aroused and demand change, nothing will change--it hasn’t for a long time.

Devon Showley

Physics Professor Emeritus

Cypress College