Need for More Science, Math Teachers Studied
"I think this is an ideal spot to discuss math and science," said Scott.
Scott and Liu led the discussion that included representatives from JPL, NASA, California Science Teachers Association, California universities, private companies like Boeing and Northrop, former California first lady Gayle Wilson and astronaut Sally Ride.
"Our work force is getting older," Scott told the audience at Friday's hearing. "We need to replace 97,000 teachers in the next few years."
Parvin Kassaie of JPL agreed the need for more science and math teachers is in direct line with the need for more scientists.
"It is a global community," Kassaie said in a Valley Sun interview before the conference. Science education has everything to do with global competition, Kassaie said.
The panel listened to testimony from teachers speaking on the need for more flexibility in their science programs.
"There is not an equal treatment in comparison to art and literacy," said Dean Gilbert of the Science Teachers Association. "We need more flexibility in our funding."
Dean told the panel that by 2012 most science teachers will retire. "We need to act on this immediately," Dean said. "If we want to have world class standards we need to back that up with legislation."
Scott told Dean that both he and Liu had proposed legislation to improve funding, however bills do have to go to a vote and often are voted down.
Dean expressed his concern with the California Department of Education.
"There is a level of dysfunction in the State Board of Education that gives a one-size-fits-all approach," Dean said. He added that teachers and schools need flexibility to work with what best suits their students and community.
Representatives from California universities said they have programs promoting science and math and have more in the planning stage. They told the panel that in some cases they have successfully partnered with businesses within the science industry, like Boeing.
"We share the national concern that our county is not training the necessary students in science and technology," said Steven Chesser, senior manager of communications at Boeing. He added that through their donations they were able to produce 1,000 science and math teachers last year.
Layla Avila of a teacher training program, New Teacher Project, explained the complication with training and keeping teachers. Many individuals in the private sector may want to give up their jobs to teach and mentor children. Giving examples of their advertising campaign in New York, Avila said that the approach to private sector is important.
"It's about offering a compelling message," Avila said. She added that to get to someone to give up their well paying job to teach, you need to reach them in a way that moves them. "You remember the name of your first great teacher. Who will remember your name?" Avila quoted from one of their ads that ran in New York.
Wilson and Ride touched on the inequities within science and math concerning girls. Ride, who in 1983 became the first female astronaut to make it into space said that in elementary schools the interest in science is equal between boys and girls. She added that the interest for girls seems to diminish in middle school and high school.
Her company, Sally Ride Science, tries to make science and math interesting and fun. They introduce girls to female role models.
"We get great collaboration from NASA, Boeing and many California companies," Ride said.
Although counselors and teachers no longer discourage girls in science and math there continues to be the drop off in interest. In an interview with Valley Sun after the hearing, Ride said she felt lucky that teachers encouraged her in her interest in science.
"We focus on introducing girls to other girls showing them that they are not alone," Ride said. Her company holds festivals where science exploration is made exciting. Boys and girls are welcomed. "We emphasize collaboration," Ride said, adding that science really is a team effort.
At the end of the hearing Liu said they had received information from many different areas of education but there was one general theme shared by most.
"People want more flexibility," Liu said.
Liu said the panel will be reviewing all the information. All the participants of the hearing agreed that science and math education is good for the state and the country's competitive economic future. It was best summed up by Ride when she quoted well-known astronomer Carl Sagan, "It is suicidal for a society who depends on science and technology to know nothing about science and technology."