Survey: Parents Would Rather Talk Drugs than Science
Corrected on 10/23/09: A previous version of this article misidentified the organization of which Paul Hanle is president. Hanle is president of the nonprofit Biotechnology Institute.
Parents might not know how to broach the topic of, say, cell mitosis, but they feel more at ease when talking to their kids about . . . drugs. A new survey from the Intel Corp. has found that parents feel more equipped to talk with their children about drug abuse than about math and science.
According to the nationwide online survey, which polled 561 adults with children ages 5 to 18, 75 percent of parents of teenagers felt comfortable discussing drugs, versus only 52 percent of parents of teenagers who felt comfortable discussing science.
Survey respondents did acknowledge the importance of math and science—50 percent ranked them as the subjects most critical to their children's future success—and they said parental involvement is crucial to their children's academic progress, but the survey makes the case that parents often find themselves with little more understanding of these subjects than their children and without the resources necessary to start a conversation.
"Our survey points to a difficult reality," says Shelly Esque, vice president of Intel's Corporate Affairs Group. "While parents may recognize the importance of math and science, they are unable to engage with their children around these subjects due to limited understanding of the topics."
Only 52 percent of 12th graders are at or above the basic level of achievement in the sciences, and only 57 percent of eighth graders are at a basic level of achievement, says a report released by the Biotechnology Institute. Paul Hanle, president of the nonprofit institute, says that parents do have a role to play in helping to improve American students' science achievement rates and that more needs to be done to enable them to fulfill it.
"Establishing a positive attitude toward science is important, and that might begin at home," he says. "A lot of parents are uncomfortable talking about science, because they don't know it."
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Tags: drugs | polls | education | science | parenting | math
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Reader Comments
Excellent
Thank you for a very instructive article
Confidence in science
Not to burst the author's bubble here, but science textbooks are available everywhere; used bookstores, thrift shops, et al. A little time spent reading the text gives parent's enough info to delve into science with the same kind of enthusiasm that their kids might display.
To Anyone Using drugs -Warning-
I have worked with a variety of people a few of them used drugs such as E and others similar. Read this if you are trying to stop using drugs or you are curious about what happens when someone close to your is going through.
We all know or have a good idea of the effects of using drugs and how it affects your brain. if you are not familiar read the following information by clicking the link below. Otherwise read along.
http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_article&ID_article=1372
I have made observation in people's behavior while spending time with new people. I interviewed about 50 drug users. I was curious to find out what goes one around them when they do drugs. However, I don't recommend doing this to anyone else and put yourself in danger. Avoid by all means to be around people popping anything over 3 pills. Or you will suffer the consequences
IF YOU are doing this things first don't do them in a secluded place such as your apartment and do not do them with only 2 or 3 people but with a bigger group. If you feel you must do them, do this do it in a place where your children are or in the house where your family lives. Not even in a secluded place. The more light and good people around you the more you will be protected.
Spiritually speaking, even if you are not religious please read. When a person consumes drugs they open a door for lost spirits and invites them in their bodies. Many have experienced seeing demonic creatures. I tell you this that the spirit God gave us is weakened and asleep and those other spirits are anxious to find a body to leave in. I have
spoken with people that have told me the things they have seen and felt and how they feel so high they don't care how many demos they see sitting and jumping around them. Telling them to do things for them. Buy dogs they will show you.
If you have lost a loved one to drugs, you should know that these demons mislead them, whispering things in their ears... enticing them to do what will eventually kill them. If you love someone that is in this situation try to spend time with them, let them know you need them in their lives. Try to inspire them somehow. Push them if you have to. It will be for their own good. If you don't have the meanings to help them, seek an organization such a church. They will be glad to help bring a brother or sister back to God.
Remember we have served the lord for millions of years before we were given a body. We are children of God and even if you don't believe in him ask yourself, who made you? And if you think you have the answer, ask yourself can I make a human body with my two hands without using anything else but the things I can create myself, not duplicate but create.
There is a God up there and you will meet him someday. If you have doubts about our Lord in heaven, pray to God he gives you the answer. The Spirit of God will let you know deep in your heart he exists.
Love all, serve all...
We are all brothers and sisters in Jesus.
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