Local Schools Participate in Math and Science Intiative
Monday, June 6, 2005
By: Laurie Johnson

A select group of teachers in the Houston and Aldine school districts are going through an intensive four week program to develop stronger emphasis on mathematics in high schools.

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With the help of a $3.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Rice University is training a small group of high school teachers to be what they term "lead teachers." Richard Parr is the director of secondary education for the university's School Mathematics Project. He says the past couple of decades have focused on reading improvement, but its clear more students are falling behind in a basic understanding of math and science.

Teachers in the program receive four weeks of professional development. They will be sent back to their campuses to assist other teachers in math instruction and to consult on improving the math curriculum. The Department of Educations's Assistant Secretary of Adult Education Susan Sclafani says students should not be blamed for their lack of understanding in the fields of math and science. She says the burden rests with teachers, and historically teachers have not been given the tools and methods necessary to provide a quality scientific education.

Sclafani says the amount of federal, state and local funding for public education has doubled in the past 15 years, but academic progress is not improving. She says school districts must recognize teaching mastery of subjects is more important than practicing for standardized tests.

Sclafani says teachers need to understand they are the most important component of a child's education and if systemic change doesn't occur in public education the results will continue to be lower expectations and more dropouts.