[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E759-E760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING THE IDEALS OF NATIONAL LAB DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 1213, 
a resolution expressing support for National Lab Day and the need to 
improve science and math education.
  National Lab Day, to be held on May 12th, will give middle and high 
school students access to hands-on, discovery-based laboratory 
opportunities. Additionally, National Lab Day will provide schools with 
an opportunity to assess and upgrade their current lab facilities. I am 
pleased that nearly 200 organizations representing science and math 
professionals and educators are supporting National Lab Day.

[[Page E760]]

  National Lab Day is a terrific initiative that comes at a time when 
we need an ``all-hands-on-deck'' mentality to provide our children with 
a first-rate math and science education. We still don't know how to 
cure cancer or AIDS, or completely ease the suffering of those with 
mental illnesses. We still have tremendous challenges regarding energy 
consumption. And we still don't know all we should about our planet and 
the people who live on it. The answers to these important questions are 
beginning to be formed in our classrooms with young students who one 
day may go on to investigate these issues and make advances that will 
benefit all of us.
  Scientists and teachers long have been concerned about the quality of 
science and math education. Yet, scientists and educators should not be 
the only ones troubled by our students' mediocre performance in these 
subjects. Every citizen concerned about the long-term health of our 
Nation's economy should be worried by our current educational 
performance. Parents who want their children to succeed in a new global 
economy should be interested. Patients in need of new medical advances 
and citizens who want to see technological progress should care about 
our Nation's performance in this area.
  It is clear that our Nation must improve mathematics and science 
education in our elementary and secondary schools. American students do 
not perform as satisfactorily in these subjects as compared with their 
peers in other nations, which threatens the long-term health of our 
Nation's economy and our competitiveness. China, India, and Germany, to 
name three, are putting more emphasis on science and math education. 
These nations recognize that the jobs of the future will require a 
basic understanding of these subjects. In fact, the Department of Labor 
recently found that three-quarters of the 20 fastest-growing future 
occupations will need workers with significant mathematics or science 
preparation.
  A decade ago, I had the honor to serve on the National Commission on 
Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, which became 
known as the John Glenn Commission. In a report entitled ``Before It's 
Too Late'', we made clear that our Nation must increase the number of 
teachers in those fields significantly and provide more opportunities 
for teachers to enhance their math and science teaching skills. Ten 
years later, I still believe policymakers must do more to support the 
teachers that play a critical role in science and math education. The 
Commission recommended that teachers receive the greatest attention, 
even ahead of curriculum or other areas.
  As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I have 
been focused on ways to do just that. I have worked to boost resources 
for the underfunded Mathematics and Science Partnerships, which 
provides professional development opportunities to a wide range of 
teachers and helps them continue improving their skills. I have worked 
on a bipartisan basis with my colleague Rep. Vern Ehlers to ensure that 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act places 
the same importance on science as it does for other subjects, such as 
English.
  In today's tight budget environment, I applaud the Obama 
Administration for proposing historic increases in the federal 
government's commitment to science education in their Fiscal Year 2011 
Budget. I was pleased to see $300 million in the Department of 
Education budget for improving teaching and learning in science and 
math. When considering any replacement to the Mathematics and Science 
Partnerships program, we must recognize that great teachers are made, 
not born. I feel strongly that any new program must continue to support 
professional development activities for science and math teachers as 
they seek to improve their craft. In addition, any new program must 
ensure that professional development programs are widely available 
across the country, not just to a few schools that compete successfully 
because they are already top notch.
  Improving our children's abilities in science and math is critical 
for our economy, our national security, and our democracy. Everyone, 
from scientist to teacher to parent to businessperson, should be 
concerned with how well we educate our children in this area. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues to fulfill the goals of the Glenn 
Commission and regain our Nation's leadership in science and math 
education.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution that recognizes the 
importance of science and math education and highlights the good work 
done at National Lab Day.

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