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I strongly agree with Mr. Greene's belief that "our educational system fails to teach science in a way that allows students to integrate it into their lives." I think this is the core problem with our educational system today. The majority of high school students wake up, go to class, sit at their desk, open their texts, listen to a lecture, take notes, and go to their next class. The teacher teaches from a textbook according to a strict curriculum that intends to more-than-adequately prepare students for the AP exam or SAT II's. There is a lot of material to cover in a short amount of time. As a result, there is very little time to discuss the information or apply the knowledge to today's life. This is okay with the high school though, because this ensures the high school a large percentage of students with high scores on the AP, and therefore the high school a better statistical ranking. Unfortunately, this is most important to academically competitive high schools across the nation.
I walked into several classes during high school where the teacher began the lecture with "The sooner we start, the sooner we're done." Even teachers are no longer enthusiastic about the material they're teaching. They are stuck teaching a science according to a strict syllabus. No wonder many students find science classes dry and boring- there is nowhere near enough integration of science and life in the classroom. Students aren't asked to question the science they learn or think about it further. They are encouraged to focus on what the teacher guesses will be on the 'Free Response' section of the exam. It is a shame that this incredible subject, that does apply to all areas of life, is neglected in the classroom as much as it is.