We have now produced two-and-a-half generations of people who do not understand the scientific method, who are woefully unskilled in mathematics, and who do not have the tools to understand how things work. They are unable to evaluate what they are told on scientific topics. They don't have the inherent skepticism that underlies a sound scientific education. They do not know how to ask for and evaluate data, so they just accept conclusions made by others. They are at the mercy of other, (no less ignorant) people who either "report" science news or politicize scientific matters as a means of accumulating power in the society. Critical reasoning has virtually ceased and people don't know how to think for themselves anymore.

How did this happen? It begins in the elementary schools, where so many math and science challenged people gravitate because the educational requirements to be a teacher don't require a working knowledge of math and science! The depths of ignorance in the teaching profession on science and math are staggering! They might as well be teaching magic, for all their lack of understanding.

Whether global warming is a fact or not, the teachers need to be teaching children how to evaluate the matter for themselves, not just repeating the current headlines and Al Gore. Global temperature data is available; carbon dioxide data is available. What is lacking is the willingness of the general public to actually ask for and think about the data and the ability to distinguish between cause and effect and random correlations.

The pros and cons of vaccination can be rationally discussed only among people who have a grasp of the concept of statistical risk. Our entire population lacks such an understanding. Most of the people educated in America have a greater fear of a nuclear power plant on the far side of their state than they do of crossing the street; the former is virtually no risk and the latter might actually kill you. How does one explain that to someone whose teachers literally found fractions and decimals baffling?

It's time we put teachers in the classroom who are competent in science, mathematics and engineering.