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The Education and The Workforce Committee Hearing
on the national and economic importance of improved
math and science education, and on H.R. 4272, the
National Science Education Enhancement Act
September 21,2000
The Education and The Workforce Committee held a hearing
on September 21,2000 on the national and economic
importance of improved math and science education,
and on H.R. 4272, the National Science Education Enhancement
Act, sponsored by Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI). Dr. Alan
Greenspan, Chairman, Federal Reserve System, was the
sole witness for the discussion of the national and
economic importance of math and science education.
For the discussion of H.R. 4272, witnesses included
Dr. Leon Lederman, Resident Scholar, Illinois Mathematics
and Science Academy,, Aurora, IL; Dr. William Haseltine,
CEO, Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Rockville, MD; Dr.
Diane Bunce, Chair, Chemical Education Division, ACS,
Washington, DC; Dr. Diane J. Briars, Assistant Director
for Mathematics Unit of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment,
Pittsburgh Public Schools, Pittsburgh, PA; and Dr.
Craig R. Barrett, President, Intel Corporation, Chandler,
AZ.
Dr. Greenspan noted that we are in a period of rapid
innovation, which is changing the way goods and services
are produced and delivered. He said markedly elevated
skills are necessary for this increasingly sophisticated
capital stock to function effectively in the years
ahead. He noted that these pressures are not unlike
those we faced a century ago with the acceleration
in technological innovation. That, he said, brought
on a greater emphasis on value added from new ideas
and concepts, rather then labor. The acceleration
of information technology has only accelerated this
shift in skill requirements. He said the pressures
for increased learning are ongoing as is evident by
the major expansion of the role of community colleges
in teaching skills required to address new technologies
and the dramatic increase in on-the-job training.
He said that while the human intelligence level has
not changed over the years, today's economy requires
using a greater proportion of intellectual capacity
which, in turn, means that K-12 students need to broaden
their skills in M&S.; Early experience with problem
solving enhances the self-esteem of young people and
encourages them to engage in more complex reasoning.
He said that by enhancing self-esteem and providing
a strong curriculum and effective teaching, students
will find themselves rising to a level of analytic
capability beyond their expectations. He noted further
that addressing the issue of raising the analytic
competency of graduating high-school seniors is crucial
to the future of the nation. In addition to increasing
the intellectual specialization requirements of the
newer technologies, he also emphasized the need for
a liberal education He stressed that significant exposure
to a liberal education broadens intellectual awareness,
enhancing the ability to reach across disciplines
to forge new ideas.
During questioning, Dr. Greenspan noted that there
needs to be a closer look taken at what is required
to teach because, he said, teaching the subject matter
and knowing the subject matter are intertwined. He
said we need to find a way to bring in more retirees
who bring both technical knowledge as well as life
knowledge. This is a large untapped resource which
is of great value to children. In response to other
questioning, Dr. Greenspan noted that children need
to conceptualize a concept in order to learn, and
that the use of high technology at a very young age
prevents this initial structure from taking place.
He said, we need to be careful about giving children
too many crutches. In response to questions concerning
the need for engaging more women in S&T;, Dr. Greenspan
said that there is a clear deprivation of intellectual
resources which exists because of intimidation - it
is a cultural issue. He said that M&S; degrees for
woman need to significantly increase, especially in
the hard sciences, and that this group probably represents
the major source of technical expertise. He attributed
these same remarks to minorities.
The remainder of the hearing focused on H.R. 4272.
The discussion focused on the general issues surrounding
M&S; education - economic and social status of teachers,
early learning of M&S;, hands on learning, teachers
trained in the content area and, among other things,
continued professional development. NSF was noted
by Dr. Briars as having provided that extra push to
make the Pittsburgh system successful. She said that
because of the competitive nature of NSF grants, this
money is not available to everyone. She stated that
both Eisenhower and NSF funds are needed, but the
start should be with Eisenhower funds because of the
competitive nature of NSF grants. She noted that these
funds are not needed forever but, rather, as a jumpstart.
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