1
Students from across the country visited the White House recently to show off their science fair projects. The White House Science Fair is part of President Obama’s Educate to Innovate program, and he spoke to the students about the role of science and innovation in American History. Congratulations to the winners! Read about their visit on the Department of Education blog here and watch a behind the scenes video here.
1
Yesterday marked the 100th day of President Obama’s administration. Over the years, this day has emerged as an important first indicator of a new administration; their goals, their values, and their focus.
In that spirit, we thought that a 100 day check in about the status of science education would be appropriate. Here are three speeches that are indicative of the energy that is emerging on behalf of elementary science at the moment.
President Obama spoke at the 146th annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences on Tuesday.
Stating that “science is more essential than ever before” for the nation’s well being, the president committed a new level of focus to science, mathematics, and technology in the United States.
He announced a new President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, pledged to increase science and research funding to the levels equal to those during the space race — essentially 3 percent of the gross domestic product, as well as other initiatives.
Most importantly for those of us in science education, he also announced, “that states making strong commitments and progress in math and science education will be eligible to compete later this fall for additional funds under the Secretary of Education’s $5 billion Race to the Top program.”
Please do, it’s well worth it!
On March 20, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addressed 4,000 attendees at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in New Orleans.
“Science education is central to our broader effort to restore American leadership in education worldwide,” he stated, offering up stark figures on thDuncan NSTAe standing of U.S. education in the “science race.”
He challenged science teachers to “make inquiry-based science relevant to kids, stimulate their curiosity, connect it with their lives,” continuing, “together, we need to change the national dialogue about science, to prepare our kids to be both honestly critical and technically competent.”
Promised funding resources include:
Click here to read a transcript of Secretary Duncan’s speech…
Along with Bill Nye The Science Guy, former NSTA President and Elementary Science Coalition Academic Advisory Board Chair Harold Pratt spoke in early March to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science on the importance of strong science education for elementary students.
He talked about NSF research that has demonstrated that children grasp complex concepts earlier than we’d thought and the implications that has on how science is taught to young children, about the importance of science education beginning in the early elementary years, the deep need for more professional development for science teachers, how to improve assessments, and more.
Please click here for a full transcript of Harold’s testimony.
*****
/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />