wouldn't they be better teaching about endangered animals instead? My daughter (11) just had a test on the names of all the different dinosaurs! seems silly to me!
2007-02-28 12:49:32 · 12 answers · asked by blahblahblah 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Wow, never thought about it that way. Teaching about endangered species (although I think they teach a little about it) would be a much more current event issue than dinosaurs. So yes, I think teaching about dinosaurs is a waste of time and books. I've never needed to know anything about dinosaurs in my years after school.
2007-02-28 12:54:28 · answer #1 · answered by Jordan Bucher 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Civil War happened a long time ago, too. Is it a waste of time to teach? Everything in our past makes up the world we live in, including dinosaurs. They are a valid part of our world's history. And anything a child is learning is not a waste of time. I agree that endangered species is a wonderful topic to learn about, why not do them both? If nothing else, at least she is improving her studying and memory skills while learning about something interesting. Personally, I do think 6th grade is a little old for dinosaurs, but I don't think dinosaurs is a waste of time.
2007-02-28 21:32:13 · answer #2 · answered by Happily married 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
Your daughter should learn about endangered species, certainly, but she should also have an education that familiarizes her with this planet's history.
The study of dinosaurs is part of a broader branch of science called Paleontology. It studies the history of Earth and the development of ancient life whose traces we find all around us.
It touches many other sciences, such as Geology, Biology, and Ecology, and is very important to industries which need information about terrain - such as oil and mining companies, since fossil records can be indicative of natural resources.
If you do feel your daughter is wasting her time, think about this: both the protection of endangered animals and the study of fossils are recognized fields of work. Your daughter will be more competitive having had a basic education about dinosaurs (one comparable to her peers), than if she learned about endangered animals (which a smaller segment of the population deals with).
The two are not mutually exclusive, it's just that she can easily learn about both independently, and may benefit more from the latter later in life, when she's in a position to create more informed opinions and act on them.
Right now, she can assimilate information about a branch of science quickly, and refer to it as she builds up the rest of her knowledge in her schooling. That's more immediately valuable to her, and may even spark an early career desire.
2007-02-28 21:00:33 · answer #3 · answered by John Galt 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yep, that seems silly all right. Natural history is just a big waste of time.
Then again, what's the sense in studying ANY sort of history? Who cares about a bunch of dead people or dead animals when there are people and animals in danger of dying right now?
You hit the nail right on the head! I wish schools would quit wasting our kids' valuable time with such nonsense - and that goes double for things like "proper" grammar and punctuation.
Besides, if kids want to know about dinosaurs, they can turn on the TV.
2007-02-28 21:02:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
teaching kids about dinosaurs and their extinction is basically implying the evolution theory about the earth being 4.5 billion years old as opposed to creationist stating that earth was actually 6000 years old, which is physically impossible.
i think a bunch of archaeologist just found jesus christ's tomb. it was just announced today on tv!! :O only the teaser anyway... i forget the date it will be aired.. x__x;
remember, kids learning the basics of the basics is the best way to step into that sort of learning. introducing yer kids to dinosaurs isn't ridiculous, it's the entrance to anthropology, about evolution and primatology and culture.. about humans, things that were once alive... and etc..
we should be aware of dinosaurs first, then we're off to the origins of the homosapien and how we evolved to what we are today. also about the fossil record and the culture of the ancient civilizations long ago... such as the sumer, eastern Asian, Egyptians, Mayans, Inca...etc...
2007-02-28 22:38:15 · answer #5 · answered by chopzsite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not! Teaching children about dinosaurs teaches them about our past, about evolution, how species adapt, that we weren't the first creatures on this planet. They need to learn about them and the species that currently exist. You can see the similarities between long dead animals and living animals. How they are impacted by the environment and outside influences. By learning about our past and can create a better future.
2007-02-28 21:01:48 · answer #6 · answered by TerreriX652 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is definitely not a waste of time. Most of the really little kids absolutely love it. Your daughter may be a little old for the kind of interest that the little ones exhibit in the topic, but it is wonderful information to know. A great introduction to scientific topics.
2007-02-28 20:55:20 · answer #7 · answered by regina s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Silly up to a point, but they do need to know they existed and such. Many kids love learning about dinosaurs, but I would say by sixth grade they should be learning about other things.
2007-02-28 20:53:29 · answer #8 · answered by Nameless 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dinosaurs are extinct, endangered species will soon be extinct!
So what is the difference?
Natural History!
2007-02-28 20:53:45 · answer #9 · answered by tattie_herbert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a waste of time teaching kids ANYTHING.
Whatever subject, they are learning, and you can't complain about that. Who knows - your daughter could grow up to be an Anthropologist! Also, memorization is an extremely important tool to learn.
2007-02-28 20:54:22 · answer #10 · answered by trailangel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋