science for all?

[Robert Cohen <Robert.Cohen@PO-BOX.ESU.EDU>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Clement [mailto:clement@HAL-PC.ORG]
> Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 5:45 PM
>
> [snip]
>
> Unfortunately fully formal thinkers (Theoretical thinkers?)
> usually do not
> realize that what seems easy to them is difficult to others
> who lack these
> methods of thinking.  However it is possible to have students
> develop these
> ways of thinking, but it requires substantial effort and an
> extended time.
> Arons points out that up to 85% of adults seem to capable of
> becoming formal
> thinkers, but sadly only 30% achieve it in our society.  As a
> result I would
> put most to be at most 30%.

What percent of those taking a first-year college-level physics course are
formal thinkers?  If college-level physics requires formal thinking, we
shouldn't be surprised when those who are not formal thinkers fail.  What,
then, is an "expected" failure rate?  When 25% fail a college-level physics
course, the education professors blame the teacher and the science
professors blame the students.  Who is more correct?

--------------------------------------------
Robert Cohen           rcohen@po-box.esu.edu
570-422-3428         http://www.esu.edu/~bbq
Department of Physics
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA  18301
--------------------------------------------