The Method To My Madness
So much of the problem with science teaching/learning is that science is hard. It requires all sorts of abstract and conceptual abilities, skills at detailed analysis and technical knowledge, traits which others have already pointed out, don't exist in everybody. So from the beginning, there are limitations on how many people will be able to benefit deeply from whatever teaching is offered.
Sadly, most people, let alone students, lack the self-discipline and motivation to approach such a daunting task when the competing interests available to them are so tempting. There are those pesky creatures of the opposite gender walking around; sports, music, cars, etc; and then of course you've got to stay up wth ur m8s on txt. Back in the days when I haunted the hallways of my local schoolhouse, there was a concerted effort to teach students the scientific method early and often. The idea was to put in place the scaffold and framework upon which scientific knowledge hangs and hopefully, in those students with the tools and interest, science learning will occur.
Oh, and a couple of comments to Paul Murray:
a) aren't most boffins bought and paid for these days? Exactly who is doing pure bias-free science now? Being smart people, said boffins aren't oblivious to the potential funding benefits that accrue to them if they politicize and commercialise their research.
b) I hear almost no one claiming that the mean global temperature isn't rising. A few dunderheaded Luddites off on the fringes might say such rot, I suppose, but in recent years the debate hasn't been about global warming, it's been about whether observed global warming results from man's activities or whether it's attributable to other causes.
Don't be afraid to dive a little deeper into the content of those articles about the topic my good man.