I've brought this up in a minor way in a few threads, but I'd like to focus on it - why is the state of education in/understanding of Science in the US at such an utterly abysmal level? From what I see most Americans don't have the level of Science knowledge a 6th grader should have - see all the idiots that don't know what a theory is, don't understand basic things, have no idea how to evaluate idiotic claims, etc. I really think they need to start teaching the basics of science much earlier - at least in 4th through 6th grade they should focs on basic scientific terminology, the scientific method, etc. And in the more applied classes in HS (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, etc) Focus on how things are done a bit more and less on memorization and formula learning. I also strongly feel they need to teach critical thinking - put some of the basics in Elementary school and have an entire class of it in Jr High - they can drop a year of art or such. Maybe have another at least semester/quarter of it in HS. I also think there should be a requirement in college of something like this or logic (luckilly I was given intro to logic my 1st semester as a freshman.) How much would you say religion has to do with the sorry state of most Americans understanding of Science/logic/critical thinking? And does this go hand in hand with the acceptance of other irrational claims like astrology, homeopathy, psychics, alien abductions, ec?