May 12, 2008
Committee Discusses How to Spark Younger Children’s Interest in Math and Science
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing on efforts to engage students in math and science at an early age.
Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) joined Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) in Rep. Hall’s congressional districtto hear witnesses discuss how to keep students interested in math and science throughout middle school and high school, and how to translate that interest into rewarding careers that will benefit the nation, long-term. Further, the Committee examined the establishment of a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)-based public elementary school and the progress that it is making with its students, which could serve as a model for the nation.
“The National Academies’ 2005 report Rising Above the Gathering Storm, found that 68 percent of eighth graders received math instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in math and less than a third of 4th and 8th grade students are proficient in math,” said Chairman Gordon. “We used the recommendations in that report to write the America COMPETES Act, which was signed into law last year. But there is still work to be done. The United States’ economy will depend on having a highly skilled workforce in order to compete globally. We have enormous responsibility to support younger students’ growth, to stimulate their interest, and to ensure that they are prepared for higher level work in subsequent grades and beyond.”
“As the son of two public school educators, I recognize and support the need to make worthwhile investments in education, especially in the fields of science and math,” Ross said. “I am proud to join my colleagues Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall to host this field hearing to take an in depth look into these issues to ensure that our children receive a world class education. With my seat on the House Science and Technology Committee, I will continue to advocate for the best tools and technologies in our classrooms in order to grow a new generation of innovators to compete in this new global economy.”
The following witnesses testified at the hearing:
· Dr. Cora Marrett, Assistant Director for the Education and Human Resources Directorate, National Science Foundation (NSF), Washington, DC
· Dr. Roseanne Stripling, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Texarkana, TX
· Mr. James Henry Russell, Superintendent, Texarkana Independent School District, Texarkana, TX
· Mr. David Smedley, Science Teacher, North Heights Junior High School, Texarkana, AR
· Mr. Mike Leherr, Plant Manager, Alcoa-Texarkana, Texarkana, TX
The hearing took place at the Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School in Texarkana, Texas. The school is part of a vertical aligned K-16 engineering education collaborative between Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Texarkana Independent School District. It provides mathematics and pre-engineering integrated curriculum and pre-engineering electives for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students graduating from the elementary school will be able move into an advanced Math and Science program at Texas Middle School. This school seeks to serve as a national model for K-16 collaboration in how young children can become engaged in and educated for careers in mathematics and engineering.
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