Here is an NSTA Reports article on STEM Education by U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Below are a couple of excerpts from Mr. Duncan’s article:

Think about what a science teacher does. More than simply helping students to understand scientific principles and theories, science teachers empower students to think and to solve problems that will emerge in the future. This goes so far beyond memorizing the periodic table or Newton’s laws of motion. Passionate science teachers create classrooms of discovery that model excitement for their field and learning.

While reading and mathematics are important foundational skills all students must master, they should be taught in ways that enrich students’ experiences in the sciences—not at the expense of them.

Important ideas from the article:

• recruiting 100,000 new STEM teachers
• $206 million for STEM programs
• more focused professional development
• building & maintaining professional learning communities
• mentoring focused on raising student achievement