New Study Claims Students' Opportunities to Learn Math and Science Are Limited

March 30, 2007

A new study claims that U.S. primary schools are not offering their students enough meaningful opportunities to learn mathematics and science. Researchers gathered their data from extensive classroom observations, which they conclude indicates that the students' learning experience did not stress enough science, technology, and analytical problem solving.

The reason, says the Education Forum, is that most state certification standards for "highly qualified" teachers put too much emphasis on graduation.

Robert C. Pianta and research colleagues observed 1,000 children — in more than 2,500 classrooms at first, third, and fifth grades. They gathered their data by setting up a system of codes and ratings to assess young students' opportunities to learn the hard sciences. The range and dimensions of the quality of their emotional and instructional experiences within their classrooms came up short of expectations.

Source: Science, 30 March 2007