Gazing at the stars in wonder

Every year we hear about how American students are slipping further behind their foreign counterparts, particularly in the fields of mathematics and science.

Culturally, we've defined newspapers as fortresses of fact based upon sincere efforts at objectivity. When our children see us reading the paper, we should be able to confidently reassure them that what we're holding is both educational and factual. Newspapers are also responsible for shaping public opinion and popular culture, if inadvertently.

I often wonder, however, what message it sends our children that they are delivered horoscope information in the same publication (and thus with the same implied validity) as world events and political news. Thankfully, the Southeast Missourian does not publish horoscopes, but unfortunately most still do.

We should not be surprised that our children lag behind in the sciences when we present them with information daily that is non-scientific. Whether consciously or not, we are training them to accept mysticism as a fact of life.

Astrology teaches our children that planets and constellations have inexplicable control of their lives. Science and astronomy teaches our children that the universe is indifferent but more diverse than the human imagination is capable of fabricating.

We should be teaching our children to gaze up at the stars in wonder. They should be marveling at the awesome power and beauty of the cosmos without putting themselves at the center of it.

STEVE MALDONADO, Cape Girardeau