Reply #3: As a high school science teacher

[adnelson60087]

I can confirm your findings about the very small number of people pursuing a science/technology degree. The tragic thing is that most of them say they want to pursue "business" as a career. I then ask them what they intend to sell without scientists cranking out the technology for them. They have no idea and don't seem to understand the US's dependence on science and technology. I firmly blame the fact that many kids today are afraid of intellectual work (science is just too hard, I hear it often) and many are turned off to science by their religious faith, which often demonizes modern science. I have had kids complain about science that "we should just accept the mysterys of nature, and not try to explain it all". I fear for the long-term viability of our nation, though I won't give up.