Ten-Year-Old Fifth Grader Discovers New Molecule , page 3

Originally posted by prisoneronashipoffools

Here's what's super-irritating: in EVERY one of my posts, I talked about how great it is that this girl is now excited about Chemistry. Did you not see that???? The title of this thread is misleading. I was pointing that out. She didn't discover it. And by the way--I'm a fantastic teacher, and great at motivating gifted students to want to succeed. I love my job, and I love what these kids are capable of. But I also recognize what they are *not* capable of at their age.

reply to post by GeorgiaGirl

Well, I can tell you what is super-irritating to me as well, and that is you claim to be a teacher, but apparently have poor reading comprehension skills.

The fact is she DID "discover" it, even if it was completely on accident. I even included examples of scientists that accidentally discovered stuff and yet even though it was on accident they are still credited with the discovery. So, explain to me why scientists that accidentally discover something are credited with discovery and yet your going to strip discovery away from this girl. Simply because she is ten and doesn't have a PHD? Please, even the scientist that published the paper gave her co author status along with her teacher, because at least he realized that even if she didn't do all the formulaic work, she still "DISCOVERED" the molecule.

As, far as you being an excellent teacher, I sure hope your not teaching English in anyway shape or form, because reading comprehension, is not really your strong suit.
edit on 3-2-2012 by prisoneronashipoffools because: typos and yes I shouldn't teach typing but I realise that shortcomming XD

I have to agree with GeorgiaGirl here. Sure the girl made the model of this new molecule, but did not infact know what she was making. She was just constructing a molecule that fitted well together. It was the chemist that the photo of the new molecule was sent to, who discovered that it was a new molecule.
Bit of a difference to me.
Sure she put it together in a form that would actually be viable, but purely by chance, not through advanced chemical knowhow.
And yes quite a few discoveries have been found purely by accident, but they have been found by the people conducting the experiments. They usually don't throw something together, then get a 3rd party involved to ask them if they have made anything worthwile.

But good on you for turning your comments into a personal attack on someone, just because you don't agree with their opinion.