Mentors for Elementary School Teachers

Abstract

In his News of the Week story “A way to heal science education, but is there the political will?” (24 September, p. [1582][1]), J. Mervis quotes from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report, stating that “too many American students conclude early in their education that STEM [science, technology, engineering, and math] subjects are boring, too difficult, or unwelcoming, leaving them ill-prepared to meet the challenges that will face their generation, their country, and the world” ([ 1 ][2]). The PCAST report proposes some solutions but overlooks one possibility. The answer lies in elementary school, where children form their first opinions about STEM. How can they develop a passion for STEM when many elementary school teachers themselves hate or fear these subjects? I propose that all elementary school teachers be provided with real-world STEM research experiences from scientist mentors. One case study showed that after a 6-week research experience, elementary school teacher attitudes changed from “my students will not become scientists” to “my students are scientists” ([ 2 ][3]). Quality research experiences for elementary school teachers will help solve the national crisis cited in the PCAST report ([ 1 ][2]). 1. [↵][4] President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, “Prepare and inspire: K-12 education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for America's future” (PCAST, 2010); [www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-stemed-report.pdf][5]. 2. [↵][6] 1. P. Dixon, 2. R. A. Wilke , J. Elem. Sci. Educ. 19, 25 (2007). [OpenUrl][7] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.329.5999.1582 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-stemed-report.pdf [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [7]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJ.%2BElem.%2BSci.%2BEduc.%26rft.volume%253D19%26rft.spage%253D25%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx