Post from the February 2006 eNews-Update:
The need to pursue excellence in education is finally a topic of discussion in the nation�s capitol. Thomas L. Freidman's recent best-seller, The World is Flat, brings national attention to the United States slipping behind China and India in producing scientists and engineers, which threatens to dramatically alter our innovation and competitiveness in the global economy. Numerous studies support Freidman�s warning that our students are falling behind those in other parts of the world, especially in math and science.
Last month President Bush announced an American Competitiveness Initiative in his State of the Union address which, among other things, called for an emphasis on improving math and science education in our schools. Some of the specifics include:
�...the need to encourage children to take more math and science, and to make sure those courses are rigorous enough to compete with other nations.�
�...train 70,000 high school teachers to lead Advanced Placement courses in math and science.� This AP Incentive program plans to increase the number of students taking AP math and science exams from 380,000 today to 1.5 million in 2012.
utilize the Adjunct Teachers Corps program to �bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms� by 2015.
a proposed fiscal 2007 budget set to include $380 million in new federal funding for K-12 math and science education.
There are many important points for dialogue. Are these proposals adequate? Will Congress pass them? If passed, how effective will they be? The important point for gifted students and their parents is that the conversation of excellence in education is now on the national agenda. We need to be a part of these discussions -- to share our experiences about appropriate educational programs for gifted learners. Communicate with your U.S. Senators and Representatives. They need to hear from you now more than ever; simply go to Project Vote Smart and enter your zip code to find their contact information.
When questioned about a possible conflict between No Child Left Behind and the American Competitiveness Initiative, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings responded that the department can do both: raise the bottom and enhance achievement at the top.
That would be a nice outcome.
