Pushing a Boulder Uphill: Three Reporters View State Progress in Math/Science Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Since the early 1980s, many reports have appealed for improvement in science and mathematics education in the schools. Even when new and/or supplementary materials are provided and made available to teachers, natural inertia is difficult to overcome. This document reports on the status of science and mathematics education improvement in three states: Colorado, Ohio, and North Carolina. An overview of the project is presented by Anne Lewis. The reports of three journalists: Jim Wright (The Rocky Mountain News); Kathy Foster (The Columbus Dispatch); and David Perkins (Raleigh News and Observer) are presented in this document. The project itself, rural schools, teacher education, teacher qualifications, elementary schools, attracting women and minorities, teacher shortages, teaching innovations, and math-science networks are discussed. The appendices provide news stories based on two of the reports, as well as a list of assessment project questions. (CW)