I stumbled upon this video from the incredible folks at Minute Physics and it got me thinking. First, here's the video, then I'll share my thoughts after the break.
I wholeheartedly agree with the above video, and hope that someone shows the President (long shot, I know, but stranger things have happened). We NEED to educate our children in physics and math, but in a way that captures their imagination. We don't need to worry about twelve year olds calculating satellite orbits, or understanding the math behind nuclear fusion, but we they need to know that these things exist, that they are real, and that the universe we live in is far stranger and more wondrous than they can imagine. The goal here is to give kids a general knowledge base of modern physics, and ignite their imaginations so that they pursue science in high school and college when they have the choice.
Our society is fundamentally reliant on technology, and far too many of us have a very limited understanding of the basic principles that make these things work. "As long as it works!" is an excuse I hear over and over, and that's fine for adults who are busy and may not have time to learn about technology that didn't really exist when they were in schools, but we cannot deny our children that education. Most kids these days already have a seemingly intuitive understanding of how to use technology, but they need to taught the physical principles behind how that technology works.
I hope the administration takes some time during this term to address the appalling lack of science education in our schools. I know a lot of curriculum is set at the state level, but the Secretary of Education must have enough influence to steer this in the right direction.