| Recently, the President announced several new | | | | educational institutions are still failing to properly |
| public-private collaborations that would make | | | | educate kids in the science and math they will need to |
| investments of more than $250 million to help train | | | | be successful in their adult professions. There is a |
| more than 10,000 new math and science instructors | | | | need to use engaging science materials at an early |
| and provide additional training to more than 100,000 | | | | age, particularly for those who educate privately or at |
| existing teachers. There is a determined push to | | | | home. |
| employ teachers who can assertively and | | | | The administration's crusade is called "Educate to |
| enthusiastically educate in the area of science. | | | | Innovate" and is pursuing numerous avenues to |
| "Passionate educators with deep content expertise | | | | increase U.S. students' rank in science, technology, |
| can make all the difference," President Obama stated | | | | engineering and mathematics. (See the full White |
| in a prepared speech, "enabling hands-on learning that | | | | House press release for information on how colleges |
| truly engages students -- including girls and | | | | and private companies are working on the issue.) |
| underrepresented minorities -- and preparing them to | | | | Home schoolers and private educators of all |
| tackle the 'grand challenges' of the 21st century such | | | | backgrounds must feel confident in being able to |
| as increasing energy independence, improving people's | | | | present science lessons and make them exciting for |
| health, protecting the environment and strengthening | | | | the student - just like the national effort to train |
| national security." | | | | professional teachers. What about President Obama |
| American students' rankings in science continue to | | | | singling out the need to engage girls? Here's just one |
| plummet compared to various other nations, which | | | | sign that points out that problem: Barely 17% of |
| does not bode well for our ability to innovate and | | | | undergraduate engineering degrees are awarded to |
| compete in the future. All of this points out that our | | | | women. |