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1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun

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1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun

Americans are enthusiastic about the promise of science but lack basic knowledge of it, with one in four unaware that the Earth revolves around the Sun, said a poll out Friday.

The survey included more than 2,200 people in the United States and was conducted by the National Science Foundation.

Ten questions about physical and biological science were on the quiz, and the average score -- 6.5 correct -- was barely a passing grade.

Just 74 percent of respondents knew that the Earth revolved around the Sun, according to the results released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago.

Fewer than half (48 percent) knew that human beings evolved from earlier species of animals.


I thought this article was about America prior to Galileo? Scary.... :shock:
 
"Wait...it does?"
 
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Many more people are young earth creationists. I'm happily surprised that a percentage of those are willing to admit that the earth orbits the sun.

I believe that certain parts of the bible are probably based on historical facts but the creation story is definitely, not one of them.
 
If ignorance is bliss, there are some happy idiots running around.
 
1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun




I thought this article was about America prior to Galileo? Scary.... :shock:

Dumbing down of our schools in the basics. We teach to the lowest student instead of trying to bring the class up to the highest student. 65% back when i went to school would be failing. 70% was the lowest passing grade. And to think, these people vote.
 
Dumbing down of our schools in the basics. We teach to the lowest student instead of trying to bring the class up to the highest student. 65% back when i went to school would be failing. 70% was the lowest passing grade. And to think, these people vote.

It's a sign that a small, educated percentage of our populace are in positions of prominence and leadership. The bulk of the masses are not middle class educated anymore or even triple digit IQ.
 
I believe that certain parts of the bible are probably based on historical facts but the creation story is definitely, not one of them.

Well, yeah, it has to be based on some historical facts, otherwise what's going to happen? It's going to take place in outer space or on Jupiter or something?
 
It's a sign that a small, educated percentage of our populace are in positions of prominence and leadership. The bulk of the masses are not middle class educated anymore or even triple digit IQ.

Pretty much I would say. I was shocked when my youngest daughter went to college and I helped her with her homework. In the basics she was bring stuff home that she was just learning I learned back in High School and some in Jr. High. Now I am talking subjects likes science, history, English, Math, Algebra etc.
 
1 in 4 Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun
I thought this article was about America prior to Galileo? Scary.... :shock:

I really question the validity of these supposed surveys. Even I know that the Sun revolves around the earth :roll:eek:r we would have days and nights.

I've read other surveys that claim 80% of Americans believe in Angels. So, tell me, does anyone here believe that there are Angels (I'm not asking about "God" - I'm asking about Angels who may or may not be servants of God).

I think these myths are created for shock value. This is how these Groups or Foundations apply for grants and donations, by "alarming" us that we are so very dumb. Sure, there are some incredibly dumb people but 25%? Really?
 
Okay, I'm going to be an educated bitch now. In fact the earth does not "circle" the sun, it "orbits" around the sun, it might even "revolve" around the sun, but it isn't a "circle" and unfortunately in today's education-less level, it might give some the idea that orbits are circular, which they effectively are not.
 
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Okay, I'm going to be an educated bitch now. It fact the earth does not "circle" the sun, it "orbits" around the sun, it might even "revolve" around the sun, but it isn't a "circle" and unfortunately in today's education-less level, it might give some the idea that orbits are circular, which they effectively are not.

So was my use of "revolve" appropriate or am I in trouble again?
 
I really question the validity of these supposed surveys. Even I know that the Sun revolves around the earth :roll:eek:r we would have days and nights.

I've read other surveys that claim 80% of Americans believe in Angels. So, tell me, does anyone here believe that there are Angels (I'm not asking about "God" - I'm asking about Angels who may or may not be servants of God).

I think these myths are created for shock value. This is how these Groups or Foundations apply for grants and donations, by "alarming" us that we are so very dumb. Sure, there are some incredibly dumb people but 25%? Really?

There was a time when I thought as you did, then I read about Texas education and the Texas Republican plank touting keeping the votes dumbed down. Now I'm not so sure.

Creationism in Texas public schools: Undermining the charter movement.

Dumbing down America one child at a time - Leonard Pitts Jr. - MiamiHerald.com
 
Pretty much I would say. I was shocked when my youngest daughter went to college and I helped her with her homework. In the basics she was bring stuff home that she was just learning I learned back in High School and some in Jr. High. Now I am talking subjects likes science, history, English, Math, Algebra etc.

My father, back in the 40's was learning Algebra, American/European History and Biology/Chemistry in Jr High. Even in the 70's we weren't quite that far ahead. The standards have been going backwards, over time for the majority.
 
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I really question the validity of these supposed surveys. Even I know that the Sun revolves around the earth :roll:eek:r we would have days and nights.

I've read other surveys that claim 80% of Americans believe in Angels. So, tell me, does anyone here believe that there are Angels (I'm not asking about "God" - I'm asking about Angels who may or may not be servants of God).

I think these myths are created for shock value. This is how these Groups or Foundations apply for grants and donations, by "alarming" us that we are so very dumb. Sure, there are some incredibly dumb people but 25%? Really?

what was the HL Mencken quote? "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public"
 
My father, back in the 40's was learning Algebra, American/European History and Biology/Chemistry in Jr High. Even in the 70's weren't quite that far ahead. The standards have been going backwards, over time for the majority.

I am a child of the 50's and the subject you mentioned were standard or normal curriculum back then.
 
There was a time when I thought as you did, then I read about Texas education and the Texas Republican plank touting keeping the votes dumbed down. Now I'm not so sure.

Creationism in Texas public schools: Undermining the charter movement.

Dumbing down America one child at a time - Leonard Pitts Jr. - MiamiHerald.com

Sure, we all know about the few stats that are pushing creationism but that would not account for a 25% figure. Even if 100% of the children who were educated in a "creationist school" believed in creationism, this shouldn't cause them to be ignorant of orbits :))) just because of that night and day and moon thing. These orbits might be incorporated into the "created by god" story but even god has set-up an orbiting situation.
 
Actually, the Earth falls toward the sun due to gravity,
while at the same moving perpendicularly to the imaginary line connecting the Earth and Sun, due to its inertia.
A parabolic motion if you will.
Such as a bullet fired horizontally.
So, neglecting friction from air drag, how fast must the object be fired horizontally on Earth so that it never hits the ground ?
 
Sure, we all know about the few stats that are pushing creationism but that would not account for a 25% figure. Even if 100% of the children who were educated in a "creationist school" believed in creationism, this shouldn't cause them to be ignorant of orbits :))) just because of that night and day and moon thing. These orbits might be incorporated into the "created by god" story but even god has set-up an orbiting situation.

But just imagine in a state as large as Texas, how is that enough people are ignorant about creationism-reality to even allow these things? That's what worries me, not that it is suggested or wanted, but that it's allowed, which means lots of folks are either already strangely ignorant, or they just don't care about education.
 
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