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As
children across the Commonwealth head back to school this week, I
thought of my own four children and how it seems as if it were only
yesterday that my wife and I were sending them off to school. Every new
year was the same - our children’s sleepless excitement the night before
the first day of school, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and new
school supplies, and the whole family getting back into the habit of
packing lunches and backpacks. Back-to-school time is more than just a
highlight across our nation – it is a symbol of the importance of
education in our society and in our children’s lives.
Largely, Americans understand the benefit of education and the impact it
has on our economic success and global competitiveness, especially in
the fields of science and technology. Science and technology fields are
a huge economic engine for the United States, and their role in our
global society has increased dramatically over the past decade.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs requiring science,
engineering or technical training will increase 24 percent between 2004
and 2014 to 6.3 million.
And for the first time, we have opportunities to use the benefits of
technology to make considerable breakthroughs to some of our biggest
challenges in energy, health care, and disease research. Our ability to
meet these opportunities is directly related to how well we empower our
students to be involved in math and science and how successful we are in
providing the tools necessary to excel.
Many don't realize how far the U.S. is falling behind when it comes to
math and science education. The U.S. Secretary of Education has
testified before Congress that our 15-year-olds rank 24th out of 29
developed nations in math literacy and problem solving. America's share
of the world's science and engineering doctorates is predicted to fall
to 15 percent by 2010. This is concerning, considering over the past
decade countries like China and India are nearly doubling the degrees
they are awarding in higher education, many of which are in math,
science and engineering fields.
If we continue to push our math and science education aside without
giving it the proper attention and emphasis it deserves, we run the risk
of severely weakening our competitive edge as a nation. We may not see
the effects right away, but our children will. One of the most important
things we can do for our students today is to encourage their interest
and knowledge in math and science.
Renewing this interest in math and science will take a combined effort
of parents, educators, and lawmakers. First and foremost, parents must
encourage math and science learning at home. Our children’s education is
not something that stops when they leave the classroom. Not only is it
important for parents to motivate their children to learn at home, it is
also important that parents stress the value of gaining an education.
For hands-on approaches, many
Web sites
offer ways that you can encourage your child’s curiosity in math
and science.
As a nation, we must be looking for ways to level the playing field when
it comes to opportunities in math and science. The "digital divide" in
our nation - the gap between those individuals with access to digital
technology and those without - must be closed, and that starts in our
educational institutions. There is no reason we shouldn't provide our
children with every opportunity to excel in the fields of math and
science, regardless of where they attend school. Three years ago, I
introduced a bill to establish a new Minority Serving Institution (MSI)
grant program to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs),
Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges bridge the digital
divide. This summer I was happy to watch as that bill was included in
the Higher Education Opportunity Act and signed into law by the
President. There are six HBCUs – and consequentially thousands of
students – in Virginia who will benefit from this important grant
program.
Additionally, we must be looking for ways to reward and encourage
private sector participation in math and science education. This summer,
I introduced the New Manhattan Project for Energy Independence, which
challenges the U.S. to reach 50% energy independence in 10 years and
100% energy independence in 20 years. To achieve this goal, the New
Manhattan Project will bring together the best and brightest students
and researchers in our nation in a competitive format to research one of
seven established energy goals and will award significant prizes to any
group, school, team, or company who reaches the goal. Incentives like
these will not only help us to reach our nation’s biggest challenges,
but they will energize a whole new generation of young people to go into
fields of math, science, and engineering.
Our economy depends on the skill level, adaptability, and diverse
knowledge of our workforce. When the world is moving quickly towards new
technology, our students can’t afford to fall behind in math and
science. We each have a role to play. As your member of Congress, I am
continually looking for ways to encourage math and science in our
educational institutions. As the new school year begins and our children
head back to school, I encourage you to get involved in developing your
child’s math and science skills. The future of our nation depends on it.
Be Prepared for Tropical Storm Hanna
Hurricanes
are vast weather systems, and while the full force of the storm often
lasts less than 24 hours in one community, its devastating effects can
impact families for years, with flood waters claiming a lifetime of
family photographs, children's artwork, and family heirlooms, and
damaging winds ruining homes and claiming lives. While we can’t stop the
force of an impending hurricane, we can prepare our families and our
homes to withstand the brunt of the storm. The following tips from the
American Red Cross will help you and your family be prepared for an
impending storm.
Create A Disaster Supply Kit - There are certain items you need
to have ready in the threat of a hurricane. Oftentimes these items are
scattered around your home, and creating a disaster supply kit is a
simple matter of putting them all in one place. The disaster supply kit
is a useful tool when you evacuate, as well as making you as safe as
possible in your home.
Follow this link to view a list of items to include in your disaster
kit.
Have A Place To Go - Develop a family hurricane preparedness
plan. Spend some time talking about the hazards that could impact your
family. Locate the safest room in your home for each hurricane hazard
and determine escape routes and a place to meet. Choose an out-of-state
friend or family member as a contact so that all of your family members
have a single point of contact.
Secure Your Home - There are
things that you can do to make your home more secure and able to
withstand strong storms. Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is
not usually covered by homeowner's insurance. Make sure that cell phones
are charged and that you have extra, fully-charged phone batteries for
backup.
Know What to Do After a Hurricane Is Over – After the worst of
the storm has passed, you still need to be prepared for what comes next.
Keep listening to NOAA Weather Radio
or local radio or TV stations for instructions. If you evacuated, return
home when local officials tell you it is safe to do so. Inspect your
home for damage. Your
local Red Cross Chapter will provide help.
Visit the
Red Cross Web site for more information on preparing for a natural
disaster. |