Got Science?

I read an intriguing post at the Freakonomics blog and I couldn't help but post it here, because it truly is thought provoking.  It is simple enough- all it really says is that a bunch of 8-10-year-olds in the UK have conducted their own research and published it, the topic being bees.  If elementary-schoolers can conduct research in the UK, why don't us US kids do so as well?  Why doesn't every kid in the US have the opportunity, at least, to contribute to the scientific community by conducting some research- it would be a wonderful experience and kids would learn a lot more than if they stayed crammed in their classrooms and snoozing in the back (or in my case, the front) of the room.