Ride Rallies For Girls’ Math, Science Education
Educators including Dean Gilbert, of the California Science Teachers Association, and Sara Munshin, California Math Council, talked about efforts to upgrade state standards for instruction in both fields. Another major topic was recruitment of mid-career professionals to enter the teaching field.
France Cordova, chancellor of UC Riverside, said both the UC and Cal State systems are working to increase the number of math and science teachers they produce. Cordova, a former NASA researcher, quipped, “I told my son the other day, eat your dinner, there are children learning in China.”
Representatives from JPL, Northrop Grumman and Boeing discussed their efforts to provide financial support and resources to promote science and math education.
Liu, a former educator, said, “With school budgets getting tighter, we need to take a hard look at the opportunities for public-private partnership. Our schools need more resources in order for our students to excel. In return, our community partners get the benefit of having a well-educated workforce with practical experience.”
First U.S. woman astronaut Sally Ride told local legislators at a La Canada hearing that retaining and focusing the interest of young women in math and science would be an important step toward meeting the gaps in training for those fields in the U.S.
“As many girls as boys are interested in science in elementary school,” she said. “That gets lost along the way.” Ride is working to deal with that through Sally Ride Science, her organization that holds workshops and training directed primarily toward adolescent girls.
The hearing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada was conducted by Sen. Jack Scott, chair of the Senate Education Committee, joined by Assemblywoman Carol Liu, chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee. Also taking part were Senators Gloria Romero and Tom Torlakson.