I agree student engagement is key to good instruction—teachers should see their classroom as a stage— a performance for the mind, if you will. But I also always took issue with Sagan’s take. As a big Cosmos fan, this bit always struck me as well-intentioned, but also ignorant of the nature of kids.

As a 18 year long high school teacher who got his start as a district substitute for all grades, I’d argue that puberty is a defining factor of middle school student engagement and certainly helps to address Sagan’s observation. To ignore it as a factor seems silly. And “horrible” is Sagan’s term :)

Another“terrible thing” that happens between K &12 is called puberty.Suddenly, these curious, inquisitive minds have biological distractions that few classes can compete with as they once did. For evidence of this,observe a 5th grade classroom of eager young minds for a day-then spend a day in 7th.