@saganrepository: Carl Sagan on why ppl aren’t curious in science #sagan

David Parker-Ross :

I wish I could sit down with this guy for just an hour.

T-Weezy :

I get what Sagan is saying. I’m a former high school science teacher. One of the problems is that in kindergarten kids don’t need to learn the really in-depth stuff about science. They can just ask simple questions and maybe be told the answer and that’s as far as it goes. By the time you’re in high school, you need to learn how to balance chemical formulas and memorize human anatomy. It’s just a lot more difficult and tedious. And sure we could avoid teaching you those things and just focus on big ideas, but somewhere down the line you need to start learning the hard stuff like how to work with exponential notation, and significant figures. If you got into college, thinking that science was just a bunch of thought experiments and then all of a sudden somebody dumped the hard stuff on you all of the science majors would quit. So it comes down to introducing some of the harder stuff gradually, while attempting to maintain your interest in overarching scientific concepts. It’s not the easiest balance to achieve. And then you combine that with a lack of adequate teacher education programs within those specific subjects - as far as how to present this stuff in an interesting way. Teachers mostly have to figure it out on their own. And on top of that, you get a bunch of top-down requirements coming from state legislatures telling you that you need to test the crap out of kids. So you just lost a couple of weeks where you could be helping them maintain their excitement about science. I’m sure there’s a better system we could invent, but it’s the system we have right now.

silversurfer :

What a star !!! Never tires listening to him Forever missed great loss for humankind

zyphodbeeblebox :

He was amazing, such common sense and intelligence!

Annapia Scaini :

What a brilliant mind - he is gravely missed. Regarding this this issue he is absolutely correct. Most schools place more importance on sports and sport scholarships because that’s where the money is. Debating clubs, math clubs, science clubs are secondary and not encouraged. Ironically, those students who excel in those subjects go on to have successful careers, whereas many athletes do not achieve professional status.

Kelly Damon :

My gosh I love him

Niva :

not the same in 2026 with kids.

Johnny_Chicago :

Why didn't you run for President? And I have the same question for Neil Degrasse.

Rene Alex :

I'm from Venezuela, gen x. my elementary teachers made it mandatory to watch Cosmos each week and write essays about it. it aired on public TV Friday nights. an invaluable source of science education.

Tax :

I've been interested in biology since I was 11, when our teacher brought tadpoles to class. The inevitable happened.

Special Agent Weisscock :

I miss him

🇨🇦 Shan 🇨🇦 :

He’s my favourite person ever ❤️

Jcloud :

Absolute truth Carl is talking!!!

user75817058388198 :

loosing curiosity from age of 6 yrs old to the age of 18 urs old: it has to do with schooling: if spoon-fed, it leads to saturation. that's why

RayzTick :

Incurious... nice ❤️

zakouth4 :

We need this guy back

ldbud :

I watched cosmos many times!! so enjoyed it!!

Gary Szat :

michael :

yes

joe50 :

What an insight and conscience Carl has! What a human being of this calibre! ❤️

Melancholy Mermaid 🪄✨️ :

Gen X here, parents and teachers did not allow questions or push back in any way. Their way or the highway. So grateful to PBS for wonderful educational programming.

Japanjohn :

nothing has changed

RascalDad :

School is socializing future employees, workers and consumers not inquisitive thinkers…😂😂😂

MrGiggles65 :

I was born into a religious family. The Church told me the answers to my questions. I say that I was born an atheist because I never believed them. Cosmos came out when I was 12 years old. Carl Sagan gave me the answers I was looking for and the thirst to always keep learning science.