Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Exam doesn’t seem to illuminate science proficiency

I read with interest the Las Vegas Sun’s Thursday article on the science test component of the high school proficiency exam, “Road to graduation runs through science test for Class of 2010,” especially one of the sample questions.

Question 1 asks which organelle plays a role in homeostasis in a plant. Homeostasis, by definition, is the integrated function of all organs and organelles that contribute to an organism’s well being.

To state that a vacuole is more important than a chloroplast or cell wall is like saying your liver is more important than your heart or kidneys in maintaining normal body function.

Obviously, they all contribute to specific physiological functions required for homeostasis. It is understandable that students, even those with more science courses in their background, might find the test confusing.

The article continues with the principal of Silverado High School questioning the value of a trade-off between adding a class in science at the expense of physical education, given the epidemic of obesity in young people. There is a lot of science in exercise, called kinesiology.

Understanding the quantitative roles of diet and exercise in maintaining body mass and blood sugar levels is a logical way to discuss scientific principles of homeostasis in conjunction with a daily exercise program that students might take home and apply beyond their high school years.

The writer has taught biological sciences at UNLV since 1976 and is currently a professor of biomedical sciences at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine.

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