Urge Congress to Improve Math and Science Education
By 2010, one in four new jobs will be technically oriented. However, women still lag far behind in earning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees and working in STEM-related professions.
Every Thursday while Congress is in session, the Lobby Corps for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) visits either the Senate or House, depending upon the hot topic of the week, to talk to Hill staffers about AAUW's position. We first meet for a briefing by AAUW staff on the status of the bill, then split up into pairs, each hitting up about 6 to 8 offices. The offices to visit are determined by the AAUW staff based on the Congresspersons' positions on the bill. In the upcoming weeks, AAUW will be keeping an eye on a STEM education bill.
Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Ralph Hall (R-TX) recently introduced the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). This bill attempts to improve STEM education across the nation by implementing recommendations found in the National Academies' report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm.
This report states that U.S. advantages in science and technology have begun to erode and discusses the need to improve math and science education. H.R. 362 will have an impact on teacher preparation by providing teachers with professional development and will improve student achievements by strengthening math and science curriculums. In addition, H.R. 362 authorizes scholarships for students majoring in STEM fields who commit to teaching K-12 science or math.
I realize that politicians can only do so much - coersion through laws and encouragement through allocation of funds - toward ensuring the technological superiority of our future generations. The rest of the burden lies on business, media, and every adult who impacts a child's life. I hope some day soon business leaders will have incentive to care about something beyond their golden parachute, media outlets will have incentive to portray adequate role models, and adults will see the importance of science literacy.
I plan to be on this planet for around 60 more years, so I'm concerned about the long-term future of our nation. But in the short term, H.R. 362 might be helpful.
Please urge your Congressperson to support this important legislation by sending them an email.
A version of this article appeared in the May newsletter for the Vienna, VA, branch of the American Association of University Women.
Every Thursday while Congress is in session, the Lobby Corps for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) visits either the Senate or House, depending upon the hot topic of the week, to talk to Hill staffers about AAUW's position. We first meet for a briefing by AAUW staff on the status of the bill, then split up into pairs, each hitting up about 6 to 8 offices. The offices to visit are determined by the AAUW staff based on the Congresspersons' positions on the bill. In the upcoming weeks, AAUW will be keeping an eye on a STEM education bill.
Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Ralph Hall (R-TX) recently introduced the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). This bill attempts to improve STEM education across the nation by implementing recommendations found in the National Academies' report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm.
This report states that U.S. advantages in science and technology have begun to erode and discusses the need to improve math and science education. H.R. 362 will have an impact on teacher preparation by providing teachers with professional development and will improve student achievements by strengthening math and science curriculums. In addition, H.R. 362 authorizes scholarships for students majoring in STEM fields who commit to teaching K-12 science or math.
I realize that politicians can only do so much - coersion through laws and encouragement through allocation of funds - toward ensuring the technological superiority of our future generations. The rest of the burden lies on business, media, and every adult who impacts a child's life. I hope some day soon business leaders will have incentive to care about something beyond their golden parachute, media outlets will have incentive to portray adequate role models, and adults will see the importance of science literacy.
I plan to be on this planet for around 60 more years, so I'm concerned about the long-term future of our nation. But in the short term, H.R. 362 might be helpful.
Please urge your Congressperson to support this important legislation by sending them an email.
A version of this article appeared in the May newsletter for the Vienna, VA, branch of the American Association of University Women.
posted by Lisa Schaefer at 7:27 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home