| STEM makes headlines every day--a definite | | | | with Juniata College and the National Science |
| education priority from the highest levels of | | | | Foundation to find a way to help high schools access |
| government on down. The goal: invigorate the | | | | the modern high-tech equipment they needed to |
| teaching of science, technology, engineering, and | | | | prepare their students for STEM careers but could |
| math in our middle and high schools and raise | | | | not afford. |
| America's academic standing in the world. | | | | Ever since, thanks to their efforts and a partnership |
| Like many others, President Obama has been quite | | | | of twelve Pennsylvania colleges and universities, |
| vocal about the shortcomings of STEM teaching and | | | | Science in Motion (SIM) has been providing the |
| our students' lackluster testing performance, hence | | | | equipment, scientific personnel, and hands-on modern |
| the government's push for improvement. To that | | | | science and technology training our students need |
| end, he has...o Initiated an annual White House science | | | | and should expect. |
| fair.o Launched his "Educate to Innovate" campaign, a | | | | For instance, in Montgomery County, that service is |
| nationwide effort to move America's students up | | | | provided by Ursinus College's SIM program. Students |
| from the middle of the pack in math and science.o | | | | in such districts as Norristown, North Penn, Owen J. |
| Challenged scientists, engineers, educators, the | | | | Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Souderton, and |
| private sector, and governors to join him in a national | | | | Spring-Ford have all benefited. Just last week, |
| campaign to engage students in STEM fields.o Given | | | | seventh graders at Spring-Ford Middle School were |
| a competitive edge to states that commit to | | | | trained on digital microscopes. |
| improving STEM education in his Race to the Top | | | | All this at no extra cost to the individual school |
| grant contest.o Recently honored about 100 | | | | districts. |
| outstanding middle and high school math and science | | | | Says Ursinus's SIM Mobile Biology Educator, Ron |
| teachers from around the country at the White | | | | Faust, "Science in Motion is simply a great way to |
| House.o Applauded the grassroots National Lab Day | | | | improve science education in an incredibly |
| initiative intended to revitalize science and math | | | | cost-effective way. It gives teachers the tools and |
| education and lead to increased American | | | | instruction they need to effectively teach their |
| competitiveness. | | | | subjects... I have taught for 41 years in this area and |
| And as he has said, "Passionate educators with deep | | | | have never found any program that was more |
| content expertise can make all the difference, | | | | effective in bringing students the joy and excitement |
| enabling hands-on learning that truly engages | | | | that science offers." |
| students-including girls and underrepresented | | | | Sounds grand, doesn't it? And yet... |
| minorities-and preparing them to tackle the 'grand | | | | Despite all the political talk about the need for |
| challenges' of the 21st century, such as increasing | | | | exceptional science, technology, engineering, and |
| energy independence, improving people's health, | | | | math instruction, the axe has fallen on this |
| protecting the environment, and strengthening | | | | unique-to-Pennsylvania, Governors Award for |
| national security." | | | | Innovation-winning program. After Saturday, February |
| Despite such good intentions, however, there's been | | | | 6th, it all ends. Governor Ed Rendell saw to that |
| no apparent trickledown effect when it comes to the | | | | when he cut all funding for Science in Motion--$1.9 |
| award-winning Science in Motion program. | | | | billion-from the state's budget and immeasurably set |
| In 1987, a group of Pennsylvania teachers teamed up | | | | back STEM education throughout Pennsylvania. |