Question: How long does it take for the Earth to go around the Sun: one day, one month or one year?

If you know the answer to this question (which appears at the end of this column), you are to be congratulated. According to a recent survey done by the National Science Foundation, you have better knowledge of basic science concepts than more than half of adults in this country. Those surveyed included professionals, high-school dropouts and everyone in between.

In the not-too-distant past, any student who could not answer this question would not have likely passed sixth grade. Now, apparently, a student who passes sixth grade would not likely know the answer to this question.

This survey, which included several other basic questions, is disturbing in multiple ways. Most importantly, one should seriously question the prioritization of time in our public schools. One needs to examine what is and isn’t being taught in all subject areas and how schools are managed in general.

I recently began volunteering at a local middle school, and after a couple of visits to the school, it became apparent to me why many adults are deficient in certain basic knowledge that our schools should teach. Apparently, some time ago, someone decided that schools should take on roles traditionally reserved to parents and families.

During my orientation session for tutoring at the school, I was introduced to the nurse that I was supposed to take my student to if he was sick. I was also introduced to a guidance counselor that I could take my student to if he was having problems with his family or peers. I even learned the location of several LGBT “safe places” within the school. Never once was I given the textbooks or a curriculum outline of what I was tutoring in.

Indeed, it’s quite clear that many public schools have adopted the parental government mentality, some worse than others. During his speech in which he accepted the nomination of the Republican Party in 1996, Senator Bob Dole got it right when he said that it doesn’t take a village to raise a child, but rather, a family.

It’s time for parents to once again start raising their children and stop asking the schools to do it for them. Furthermore, our schools need to stop taking it upon themselves to act as parents and instead, spend their time teaching the basics, especially reading, writing, math, science and history. No amount of increased funding will ever cause this; a fundamental change in attitude is necessary among teachers and administrators of our schools.

Finally, as it is currently Catholic Schools Week, I want to thank all of my Catholic grade-school teachers, especially the nuns who taught me so well. While I may not have come out of grade school knowing everything, at least I know that the earth takes one year to orbit the sun — apparently enough information to beat half of adult Americans in a science quiz.

Mark Baumgardner ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in electrical engineering.