[Tarrccrys]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8565258.stm

One in 10 children thinks the Queen invented the telephone, a survey of children's science knowledge suggests.
Others gave credit for the invention to Charles Darwin and Noel Edmonds.
One in 20 of the 1,000 pupils polled thought Star Wars character Luke Skywalker or Richard Branson had been the first to set foot on the Moon.
Just over a third of boys said Newton discovered fire, while the remaining 16% either said he invented the internet, or discovered the solar system or America.
Surely they must have been having a laugh?

[fhutiussk]

You´d be surprised at how dumb some people are,..
btw shot in the dark, the Telephone was partially invented by a guy named Bell, right ?

[sam]

Truth is, most kids don't give a crap about science and are far more interested in sports, films, music and games.

Hell, my interest in science didn't really kick in till I was over 20.

[jeepgrandch]

It's always difficult to know for sure but the students of that age I've taught in the past, their knowledge of scientists past was very poor but knowledge of science fairly good.

Eight out of 10 boys correctly identified Alexander Graham Bell as the inventor of the telephone, compared with 69% of girls.

So this, first of all, suggests that they used a multiple choice answer survey to question their knowledge - which begs the question 'what were all of the answers?', as arguably Bell invented didn't invent the telephone: just a certain type of (successful) telephone, that he patented. Was Meucci one of the answers?

[Tarrccrys]

You´d be surprised at how dumb some people are,..
btw shot in the dark, the Telephone was partially invented by a guy named Bell, right ?

Alexander Graham Bell (a Brit), yes.

Truth is, most kids don't give a crap about science and are far more interested in sports, films, music and games.

Hell, my interest in science didn't really kick in till I was over 20.

According to the article 70% of 9 and 10-year-olds want to be famous for winning a Nobel Prize in science, but that drops to 33% for 11 to 15-year-olds.

[loikrso]

From The Topic Heading I Thought You Meant Queen As in The Band.

Nothing unusual, you can get any statistic you want in a poll if you load the questions right.

[lagunaEl]

my guess is that most kids that age if dont instantly recognize the correct person, they are going to choose which ever person sounds familiar.

the moon landing, if they dont recognize armstrong (for whatever reason, i dont know if i could have told you when i was 10) they see luke skywalker, have heard of him, seems like best guess.

I guarantee if the question was not multiple choice, and they didnt know the answer, you would get a blank stare, not luke skywalker

[KixdricyArrip]

Personally speaking, knowing who invented the telephone is more to do with celebrity than science. Knowing how it works is much more important than learning who invented it.

Anyway, I doubt most here could say who invented it without a google.

[fhutiussk]

Anyway, I doubt most here could say who invented it without a google.

I´d say anybody with a decent educational background would know.

[KixdricyArrip]

I´d say anybody with a decent educational background would know.

I don't know about you, but I was taught Bell invented the telephone (he didn't).

[RotsLoado]

Alexander Graham Bell (a Brit), yes.

Who spent lots of time (and died) in my neck of the woods.

[fhutiussk]

I don't know about you, but I was taught Bell invented the telephone (he didn't).

that´s what i remembered too, although i remember reading something about him only being one of many in the development of the phone, hence my first comment.

the Telephone was partially invented

[KixdricyArrip]

that´s what i remembered too, although i remember reading something about him only being one of many in the development of the phone, hence my first comment.

It's actually a lot more complicated than that. The only thing I would credit Bell with is the first to successfully commercialise the telephone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_of_the_telephone

[downtowndude]

It's actually a lot more complicated than that. The only thing I would credit Bell with is the first to successfully commercialise the telephone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention_of_the_telephone

You can credit Bell with a lot more than that I would hope.

[KixdricyArrip]

You can credit Bell with a lot more than that I would hope.

OK, he was probably a thief too.

[AnIInWon]

Bohemian Rhapsody was a good song

[TEFSADDERFISA]

I know Yogi Bear invented the Television

[aaaaaaaabbbby]

Meucci invented the telephone before Bell, he just didn't get the patent rights.

[affozyBoomi]

I know Yogi Bear invented the Television

he's also the star of an excellent rugby song.

[golozhopik]

HEADLINE:

9/10 children know the queen did not invent the telephone, 1/10 children like to take the piss on tests they know are not important.