Wanted: math, science teachers
By: Janelle Eastridge
Issue date: 7/19/07 Section: News
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Lt. Gov. John Garamendi convened with local educators, business people and community members at a Cal Poly forum Tuesday to assess the conditions of the Central Coast's school systems, claiming that if schools statewide do not change soon, California's economy could continue on a downward spiral.
As part of his Listening Tour Forum, Garamendi has been traveling to campuses throughout the California State University system since he assumed the post of lieutenant governor in January. Cal Poly is the seventh stop on the tour, which he hopes to complete (at least in the CSU system) by June 2008.
Among those on the 11-member panel were: Fourth-grade teacher Jaime Cuello, whose college-paraphernalia-laden room inspires students, many of whom come from migrant families, that they too can attend college; James Becker, vice president of Diablo Canyon Power Plant, who addressed the need for more technical jobs and nuclear engineers in an industry that is starting to pick up but whose work force will largely retire within the next decade; and Brandon Sousa, Associated Students Inc. president.
Claiming that the work force of the future lies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, many on the panel urged for a fostering of these subjects in younger students.
"Our ability to remain globally competitive as a state depends especially on our capacity for scientific and technological innovation," Cal Poly President Warren Baker said. "This, in turn, depends upon our ability to engage students at a young age in the study of science and mathematics, and to encourage them to embark upon college and university programs in the scientific and technological fields."
Thirty-five percent of science teachers and 40 percent of math teachers at the elementary level are under-prepared, he said. There is a statewide need for more competent, effective and inspiring teachers.
Others, such as the county's superintendent of schools, Julian Crocker, argued for the improvement of teachers already in the field.
As part of his Listening Tour Forum, Garamendi has been traveling to campuses throughout the California State University system since he assumed the post of lieutenant governor in January. Cal Poly is the seventh stop on the tour, which he hopes to complete (at least in the CSU system) by June 2008.
Among those on the 11-member panel were: Fourth-grade teacher Jaime Cuello, whose college-paraphernalia-laden room inspires students, many of whom come from migrant families, that they too can attend college; James Becker, vice president of Diablo Canyon Power Plant, who addressed the need for more technical jobs and nuclear engineers in an industry that is starting to pick up but whose work force will largely retire within the next decade; and Brandon Sousa, Associated Students Inc. president.
Claiming that the work force of the future lies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, many on the panel urged for a fostering of these subjects in younger students.
"Our ability to remain globally competitive as a state depends especially on our capacity for scientific and technological innovation," Cal Poly President Warren Baker said. "This, in turn, depends upon our ability to engage students at a young age in the study of science and mathematics, and to encourage them to embark upon college and university programs in the scientific and technological fields."
Thirty-five percent of science teachers and 40 percent of math teachers at the elementary level are under-prepared, he said. There is a statewide need for more competent, effective and inspiring teachers.
Others, such as the county's superintendent of schools, Julian Crocker, argued for the improvement of teachers already in the field.
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Barry
posted 8/24/07 @ 9:13 PM EST
I moved away from California in 1976 to take a job back east.
at that time California had large numbers of aerospace engineers who were fluent in applied math. (Continued…)
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