Science education

Little kids are fascinated by science. And most people who graduate from secondary education are science haters. We've obviously done something wrong.

So says Philip Kitcher, here.  He continues:

Instead of lumbering throughout years and years of school of memorisation of all sorts of amino acids, we should let the people who know by the age of 14 that they are not going to go into science to have a completely different kind of scientific education. 

One that brings home to them things about how scientific breakthroughs have occurred, the fascination of scientific discovery, we should get them to understand how evidence is assembled, how scientific creativity works, and make them literate, to read scientific articles written for the public in ways that they can carry forward throughout their lives.

As Mulan and Miya get older, I am beginning to wonder more and more about how to approach their science education.  I think it makes sense to focus more on the general scientific literacy aspect of it -- the history of science, scientific methodology, science culture, etc.  A bit more storytelling, and a bit more open problem solving, perhaps.

Kitcher says he is writing a book on this issue at the moment.  It should be interesting.  I'll look for it when it comes out.

(I also agree with a lot of what Kitcher says elsewhere in the above-linked interview.  In particular, I think he is spot on in his assessment of Richard Dawkins.  Also, I have just ordered from the library Kitcher's book on climate change, which is mentioned in the interview.)

Athletics

Our athletics season is over.  We had our final competition last Wednesday, and there'll be nothing happening until things start up again in October.

As I've said before, Mulan, Miya and I all join and compete at Takapuna Athletics Club, with clubnights on Wednesdays and events coaching on Mondays.  (Sadly, we can't convince Mama to join, too!)  We don't try the interclub competitions on Saturdays as it clashes with music lessons.

Miya:

At Grade 7, Miya started lots of new events this season, doing some longer runs as well as three new field events.  She has loved this -- by midway through Grade 6 she'd had enough of the games-based activities and was ready for more serious events.

Miya has done especially well in the field events this year.  She has worked hard on her throws, attending the Monday coaching sessions each week for both shot put and discus.  This time last year, she didn't have a clue about throwing; now, Miya is getting very smooth and fluent in her movements and the implements are flying out pretty far.  At the end-of-season club champs she got firsts in both discus and shot put.

Miya's long jump has been more frustrating, and with only small gains.  I get the impression that the long jump event organisers don't have the same sort of crowd control that the throws organisers have, and things sometimes seem quite chaotic there.  (I try to help out with Mulan and Miya's events where possible, but unfortunately Miya's long jump is just when I am doing my events.)  One problem has been that the kids stand on the runup track, meaning that Miya cannot start her runup at the place she would like to, instead having to start further forward.  Another problem is that sometimes it is unclear whose turn it is to jump.  A couple of times this season Miya has been in tears with frustration.  Sadly, my best advice has been to suggest that Miya doesn't try so much in this event, and just wait for future years when the older age-groups self-organise a bit more.  At the club champs, Miya got second in the long jump.

In the running events (both sprints and longer distances), Miya has made good, steady improvements in her times.  She typically places around the middle in her age group, and it was an achievement for her to get into the finals at the club champs in all the track events except the 60 m.

Mulan:

At Grade 10, Mulan also started a couple of new events this season.

Unfortunately, since the beginning of term this year, Mulan wasn't able to attend the Monday events coaching sessions, as it clashed with ballet classes.  But before that she was getting some good throws coaching advice and she has continued to make good improvements.  This season she learn to do the glide in shot put, and her PB (personal best) is now only 5 cm less then my PB!

At the club champs, Mulan got first in the long jump, as well as seconds in high jump, discus and shot put.

Mulan's track events results are similar to Miya's, in that she places around the middle in her age group.  She has also made good, steady improvements over the season, and she also did well to get into the club champs finals for all track events.

Me:

The old man is still hobbling around the track each week, competing in most events.

Actually, I have done well this year.  The aches, pains, and injuries have all been manageable, and winter weight training in the gym has given me a bit more strength.

I broke the Takapuna Club record for veteran men in the triple jump, getting 10.59 m.  I also got PBs in both the discus and shot put.