Physics: 'A Waste of Time'?

Is studying science and mathematics valuable for a general education? Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said it is a "waste of my time, waste of my teacher's time and a waste of space" -- if your goal is to become a lawyer. His audience roared in laughter and applause. Is such an attitude entrenched in our society?

This brief video, shared by Sir Harold Kroto from his seminar at the American Chemical Society meeting this week, "Science, Anti-Science and Survival" exemplifies this caustic attitude towards education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that is so critical for our nation's future.

What can be done to promote STEM education with politicians promoting such views, with communities heartily accepting such an anti-intellectual stance?

I believe that everyone can benefit from learning pre-college science and mathematics, if only to learn how to balance a checkbook and to appreciate the value of logic and critical thinking.

From the video:

When I was in high school, if you were in the "so-called" pre-college curriculum, you had to take four years of science and four years of math -- a waste of my time, a waste of my teacher's time and a waste of space.

I took Physics. For what?

{laughter, loud applause}

This video is anything but amusing.

A version of this post was published at Dean's Corner at ScienceBlogs.

 

Follow Dr. Jeffrey H. Toney on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jefftoney

Comments

[raechel]

08:34 PM on 04/09/2011

For most of our country's history, those in power have been hostile to those with educations. I'm not sure there's anything to do about it except ignore it and go about our business.

[hagagaga]

03:53 PM on 04/09/2011

If you do not have a well-rounded base in science, history, and mathematics, you are not educated.

[Robert Mudry]

03:27 PM on 04/09/2011

Trent Lott statements demonstrate his inability to cope with science and math and provides more confirmation that author Robert Heinlein was correct when he wrote:

"Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house. "

from his book, "Time Enough for Love"

[hagagaga]

03:53 PM on 04/09/2011

I grok that quote.

[Vishwas]

05:47 AM on 04/08/2011

That is a very disturbing attitude coming from a politician, even more disturbing is the fact that people applauded to his statement. What about the children in developing countries who could only dream of sitting in a classroom and learning all the fascinating concepts of science?