Science Change Beyond the Classroom

The passion for teaching science starts in the classroom.  Once I have triggered the desire in my students to learn more about the sciences, it is my responsibility to ignite the passion among my colleagues.  As a third grade team, I am the one that creates the science lessons.  My fellow colleagues trust my experiences to delivery high inquiry bases lessons.  Thus far, the only changes that I have made have been with my students and team mates.  I need to be bolder and bring STEM issues to my principal.  Over the summer, I addressed my desire to start an afterschool program with grades 3-5 to focus on the sciences.  However, my principal felt that at this time, we as a school need to focus on our reading and mathematical way of teaching.  Once he sees that my students are striving in these two areas, he will consider me in promoting the sciences. 

Sputnik

Like many Americans, I am thankful that I am an American citizen.  I am thankful for the many men and women that fight for my freedom on a daily basis. There is still one thing that I question about our government, why is it that we (as a country) act like everyone else’s big brother? 

In the article “What’s our Sputnik?” it stressed that since we are embarking on the war on terror, other countries, like China are continuing to surpass our technological advances.  Honestly, Friedman did bring up a great point.  I understand that the United States wants to keep its allies.  It does seem that somehow through helping others, we have lost our passion to be leaders in technology, science, engineering, and mathematics.  Where has our passion gone? 

The economy across the states has dropped.  In Michigan, we were definitely hit due to the state’s income focusing mainly on the auto industry.  Finally, Michiganders are beginning to see some economic climb, thanks to the engineers designing more vehicles that are geared toward hybrids.  Is this the end to our struggles?  As a state, the government needs to come up with more outlets that can create more jobs in the STEM areas. 

If at a national level, the government can reevaluate the passion that drives its’ people, there could be a huge push to promote global competition.  In the classroom, we are promoting STEM lessons, so it is up to the government to promote it across the nation. 

Resources

Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8.