Bell curve (Score 1)

No matter how many you end up with some suck, most are ok and some are good. Math, calculus, algebra they are all tools to be used in science. THIS IS RARELY SAID OR EXPLAINED TO KIDS!! When I gave a lecture on sound to a 4th grade class and told them that everything they see, do and hear in the room can be modeled by math they looked at me funny. One kid asked "even a fart". I quickly explained the basics of how a fart could be shown with math and I had their attention thru the 30 minutes. Engineering is solving problems. Maybe starting with the big picture and working down can spawn and sustain interest and understanding. Making a gauntlet and failing out the 'weak' seems to be the only way we do it, but is it the only way to create great thinkers and do'ers? Try explaining what these tools are used for by example and then it is not some complicated useless problem that gives stress and headaches. These classes don't have to be eliminated, just moved to a place where the application is more clearly shown. I feel the goal should be to create a system that is solution solving and idea creating. We all know smart, common sense friends that for one reason or another did not make it thru college for what ever reason. Could they have created something outstanding or solved an engineering problem. The answer likely is yes.