A couple days ago I found myself in an unintended debate about a diary regarding Arne Duncan. It would be out-of-character for me to defend Duncan's position on privatization of education because I'm a strong believer in public schools as the foundation of our democracy. I've seen great charter schools and horrible abuses of the term "school" in the name of commercial charters, so I won't begin to go there.
But the author of the diatribe against Duncan (a biology teacher) didn't seem aware of the strong and continual dialogue between the administration and the National Science Teachers Association. Duncan has been a well-received speaker at a national meeting, a partner in the National Science and Engineering Festival on the National Mall and a featured author in the group's latest newsletter. His relationship with science teachers has been far stronger than his (improving) relationship with NEA.
What has happened on the national level for science education in the last two years has been largely positive. In the interest of conversation rather than evisceration, it's important to acknowledge this because it's crisis time in science literacy!
First, Duncan has opened up dialogue with science teachers by acknowledging their special responsibilities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics education):
Think about what the 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.
Our schools have a critical shortage of science and mathematics teachers--especially women--and he [the president] is committed to recruiting 100,000...
Duncan also joins the President in trying to move the definition of accountability away from commercial standardized tests.
In addition to complaints about accountability's focus on reading and mathematics, I often hear science teachers lament the lack of support they get to help them...your own money and personal time...
The president's plan to fix NCLB will address these concerns...at a time when other programs are bing level funded or even cut, the president is showing his commitment to science and mathematics by proposing a 15% increase...evidence-based projects designed to improve student achievement...
Is the biology teacher who "eviscerated" Duncan in his letter involved in a national association? Using this involvement to help move the conversation further? I know "talk is cheap" but there has been a lot of money (prior to this House) put where these sentiments lead.
Here's the real issue: On a day when Louisiana again plunks down a few million in potential litigation money by putting public bucks into the teaching of Creationism in public schools...and the majority of Americans have greater belief in alien abductions than evolution or climate change...should we be eviscerating someone who seems to understand STEM education, or involving him?