Secretary of Education Arne Duncan shared his views on the direction of Science Education in the Knowledge Economy in the May 2011 issue of NSTA Reports.
Duncan says the administration is “committed to ensuring our country’s science teachers have the resources, expertise, and support needed to make science an educational priority. Yet, I realize we need to make fundamental changes in policy to accelerate student outcomes. Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), schools have felt compelled to focus on reading and mathematics, limiting teaching of other subjects that are part of a well-rounded education. While reading and mathematics are important foundational skills all students must master, they should be taught in ways that enrich students’ experiences in the sciences—not at the expense of them.”
He also noted, “Under President Obama’s plan, schools will have more flexibility to focus on science because his program focuses on the schools most at risk, rather than micromanaging schools that are doing well.”
I’d like to hear what you, as a science educator, think of the administration’s plan to promote science education!