Earth sciences are very much the stepchild of secondary education. This should not be the case: In our increasingly technologically sophisticated world, students without a basic understanding of scientific principles will have an increasingly difficult time both in their careers and in their even more important role as citizens. As issues like a sufficient supply of fresh water, coastal erosion, and global warming become increasingly important, only those individuals who have a basic understanding of the basic facts of earth sciences will be able to make informed and responsible decisions about our stewardship of the earth.
