Communications of the ACM
'mobilization' For Math and Science Education
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Math and science education in the United States needs to improve dramatically if the country wants to stay competitive in the 21st century, concludes a report from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The report, "The Opportunity Equation: Transforming Mathematics and Science Education for Citizenship and the Global Economy," outlines a comprehensive plan to advance math and science learning. The plan's primary objective includes establishing high and common assessment standards in math and science for all 50 states and aggressively recruiting and supporting teachers. More than 70 organizations, including government, schools, philanthropies, and businesses, have pledged their support to the recommendations.
"We have to bring math and science to the forefront," says U.S. Department of Education secretary Arne Duncan. "Perpetuating what we have is not going to get us where we want to go." Duncan says science and math teachers should be paid more than they currently are, particularly those working in underperforming communities. Teachers should also work with engineers, doctors, and professionals in technical fields to demonstrate to students how the sciences can be applied in real life.
Carnegie Corporation president Vartan Gregorian says the quality of math and science learned at colleges and universities is based on strong K-12 education. The report says that colleges and universities should create partnerships with higher education and K-12 systems to increase the number of students entering college that are prepared for math and science courses.
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