How Candidates Plan to Make MO a Leader in Math and Science

I recently chatted with candidates running for the U.S. Representative - District 8 seat and the State Senate - District 27 seat about what they are going to do to make Missouri a leader when it comes to math and science. All candidates were contacted. State Senate - District 27 candidate Linda Sanders did not respond to each question but did send a response. You will discover her response below the questions. U.S. Representative - District 8 candidate Joe Allen did not respond to any questions. The candidates below responded to each question.

1. Compared to students in 30 industrialized countries, American 15 year olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. In your opinion, what happened? Where did this trend start….why are we continuing to fall behind?

Jason Glennon Crowell - State Senate - District 27

"I think it is important to note that all children in America have a right to a public education…the same cannot be said for all of the 30 industrialized countries. With that said I think that we need to focus and encourage students to excel in math and science."

Jo Ann Emerson - U.S. Representative - District 8

"American innovation depends upon a strong foundation in sciences. Scientific knowledge creates opportunity for citizens, businesses, the economy and our country. We must prioritize math and science education to ensure our young people have opportunities to pursue careers in science, engineering and other technology-related fields. Unfortunately, science and technology-related employers oftentimes search overseas to find qualified engineers and scientists because our nation is not producing enough graduates in the engineering and science disciplines. We cannot let this trend continue. We must strengthen academic curriculum and ensure that the innovations of the 21st Century are created in the American research and business communities, particularly in the field of alternative energy production."

Branden C. McCullough - U.S. Representative - District 8

"I believe that the primary reason we are falling behind is that the schools themselves have become more an extension of the federal bureaucracy rather than an institution of learning. As an educator myself, I see quite clearly the deficiencies in federally run public schools. The best way to ensure that kids learn is to return power of the schools to teachers, parents and local communities. This means repealing the No Child Left Behind Act and most other regulations that hinder our teachers."

2. Missouri students mirror the trend mentioned in the above question, which leaves many of our students less prepared to enter the global workforce. Governor Matt Blunt started the Missouri Alliance on Math, Engineering, Technology, and Science (METS), which is dedicated to suggesting ways our state can become a leader in math and science. What suggestions do you have? Where do we start in Missouri?

Jason Glennon Crowell - State Senate - District 27

"As a Missouri state senator I have advocated for METS attention and funding. It is a successful initiative on all levels. In addition I think we need in the areas of math and science to be able to offer merit based pay for excellence in the highly competitive math and science fields…we should also allow highly experienced and skilled individuals who have math and science backgrounds to start a second career in education in these fields."

Jo Ann Emerson - U.S. Representative - District 8

"In Congress, I will continue to support funding for effective initiatives like the America Competes Act, legislation I supported which addresses concerns that the United States may not be able to compete economically with other nations in the future due to insufficient investment in science and engineering research and in science, technology, engineering, and math education. This initiative will improve American innovation by strengthening scientific education and research, improving technological enterprise and poviding 21st Century job training."

Branden C. McCullough - U.S. Representative - District 8

"We start with allowing teachers the freedom to teach science and math, rather than teaching to standardized tests. In fact, all standardized tests should be eliminated, other than the ACT and SAT, which is taken immediately prior to college. It is a fact that the more the federal government has tried to assist in education, the worse it has become. If we let teachers do what they are trained to do without interference, then we will see better results."

3. According to Missouri Coalition on Math, Engineering, Technology, and Science Education (METS) a majority of Missouri's students do not possess a basic knowledge of math and science.

- Missouri fourth-grade students' math skills rank in the bottom third nationally.

- Math scores of eighth-grade students have declined in national assessments, ranking Missouri below 34 other states.

- In 2005, only 17 percent of Missouri's tenth-grade students scored at proficient or advanced in math. Only eight percent tested at proficient or advanced in science. In your opinion how do we get kids interested in math and science?

Jason Glennon Crowell - State Senate - District 27

"We must focus attention and stress the importance of math and science in the education curriculum and attack our best and brightest individuals to these areas as teachers."

Jo Ann Emerson - U.S. Representative - District 8

"We must also attract more math and science teachers to our state and region by offering incentives to those who demonstrate excellence in their field. This will help supply Missouri's work force with individuals who have the background and skills to become leaders in science and engineering."

Branden C. McCullough - U.S. Representative - District 8

"Interest in math and science starts with the parents, but in the end, it is up to teachers to present the information in a way that encourages students to respond. As a teacher myself, I am well aware that not every student can be reached, but giving teachers the power to make science and math exciting will certainly improve our children in these fields."

4. Statistics continue to show that parents play an important role in their child's education. How do we get more parents involved?

Jason Glennon Crowell - State Senate - District 27

"Parents need to be brought into the educational experience through math and science competitions and clubs…parents in southeast Missouri will travel the area for football, softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and other sporting events…they will show the same dedication and interest if we can work with corporation and businesses that are deeply reliant on a richly educated math and science employee that the best way to attack to students to the field and to develop and skilled work force is to sponsor more of these science fair opportunities and competitions…"

Jo Ann Emerson - U.S. Representative - District 8

"Everybody can play a role in engaging young people in the exciting subject of science. By engaging students, parents and teachers can spark an interest in science and enable young Americans to reach their academic potential. By recognizing science in our daily lives and fostering interest in the natural world that surrounds us, and by funding new initiatives to teach science inside and outside the classroom, we can create a new generation of American leaders in the sciences."

Branden C. McCullough - U.S. Representative - District 8

"Parents are absolutely critical to a student's education. Unfortunately, some parents must be forced into participating. This could be done by making parents responsible for the children, even while in school. In order to accomplish this, I recommend that we begin to privatize the schools. Instead of property taxes for funding, have parents pay a yearly tuition per child. For low-income families, the tuition can be reduced or subsidized. This way, parents have a vested interest in ensuring their children do well, because a child held back means extra money. Also, with the partial privatization of schools, administrators and teachers have more power to correct misbehavior appropriately, even if it means expulsion. Even the least interested parents would have to be involved."

State Senate - District 27 candidate Linda Sanders did not respond to each question but did send the following response.

"In my opinion I believe our fifteen year old students are to influenced by sports and modern technology. They would rather have a career in sports are play with video games and computers. They are allowed to invest too much time in those activities. I can't give you an answer to where the trend started, but the reasons above are some of the cause. Also I think parents are too much involved in the above mentioned and so therefore they are setting the example. They are not encouraging their children toward math and science technology because they too are not interested. We must first teach the parents so the parents can teach the children the way of the future."

"There are also things our state government can do as well as our teachers. I do not chose to discuss my thoughts on the website. I have a friend who is a chemist from another country. She has talked with me about her school and the math and science taught there. She gave insight into the difference of schools in the United States. We can learn from the Asian Countries."