STEM Education Before High School: Shaping our Future Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Leaders of Tomorrow by Inspiring our Children Today

Opening Statement By Chairman Bart Gordon

Good afternoon.  It is with great pleasure that I welcome my fellow Committee Members and our distinguished panel of experts to the Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School, here in Texarkana, for what will undoubtedly be a valuable discussion on STEM education before high school.

Last August, Congress passed and the President signed into law the America COMPETES Act.  A response to the 2005 National Academies’ report Rising Above the Gathering Storm, and supported by a wide range of U.S. industries, universities, and science organizations, COMPETES seeks to ensure U.S. students, teachers, businesses, and workers will continue leading the world in science, innovation, research, and technology.

As we all know, the global marketplace continues to become more competitive.  The fact of the matter is, our country cannot and should not compete with the rest of the world on wages when half of the world’s workers earn less than $2 a day.  Our country needs to compete at a higher level – with better skills and higher productivity.

But today, America is falling behind other countries in educating our kids in STEM fields, and American students continue to score below average on math and science tests.  According to the latest OECD Program for International Students Assessment, or PISA, students in the U.S. ranked 25th out of 30 developed countries in math and 21st out of 30 developed countries in science.

The America COMPETES Act seeks to reverse this trend and ensure not only that our nation will produce the world’s leading scientists and engineers but also that all students will have a strong grounding in math and science and are prepared for technical jobs in every sector of the economy.

I look forward to hearing testimony today from our witnesses on this subject.  Having had the opportunity today to tour the Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary school I look forward to learning more about its establishment as a STEM-based public elementary school, and the progress it is making with its Pre-K through 12th grade students here in Texarkana.

Opening Statement By Rep. Mike Ross

I would like to first thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall for holding today’s hearing and all of the witnesses who have come today to discuss Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education, also known as STEM education.  I would also like to thank all of you for attending today and for your service and dedication to our children’s education.  It is an honor to be here to discuss this important topic and I am hopeful that today’s hearing can provide a forum to discuss ways that we can work together to encourage our youth to pursue these fields of study.

As the son of two public school educators and the father of two children attending public schools and universities, I have seen first hand how important our education system is and I strongly believe that providing America’s children with a world class public education is critical to our nation’s future.  Decades ago when President Kennedy worked to put a man on the moon, our nation’s investment in research, technology, and education was unprecedented.  This resulted in raising a new generation of innovators.  I believe that we can do that again by supporting and encouraging major investments in STEM education.  Today’s students will be tomorrow’s innovators, which will help strengthen our economy, create new jobs here at home, and help America compete in this new global economy.

STEM education is responsible for our nation’s technologically proficient workers, as well as our scientists and engineers, who will keep our nation on the cutting edge.  As a member of the House Science and Technology Committee and the House STEM Education Caucus, I am personally involved with these issues on a daily basis.  However, I am proud to help host this hearing today to foster more discussion on the local level about STEM Education and the possibilities that it can bring.

As many of you know, our nation’s future competitiveness in the global economy depends upon the ability of our schools to prepare students in mathematics and the sciences and I am hopeful that today’s hearing can help us determine the best ways to shape and inspire those leaders of tomorrow.  Again, thank you all for coming today and for participating in this important discussion.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Dr. Cora Marrett
Assistant Director Directorate for Education and Human Resources National Science Foundation Directorate for Education and Human Resources National Science Foun
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2 - Mr. James Henry Russell
Superintendent Texarkana School District Texarkana School District
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3 - Dr. Roseanne Stripling
Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs Texas A&M University Texas A&M University
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4 - Mr. Mike Leherr
Plant Manager Alcoa North America Rolled Products Alcoa North America Rolled Products
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5 - Mr. David Smedley
Science Teacher North Heights Junior High School North Heights Junior High School
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