Governor’s Column - June 2, 2006
by Governor Matt Blunt
The Importance of Math and Science
Missouri is blessed with a workforce unmatched in the world. However, to attract and maintain the high quality, family supporting jobs of the 21st century global economy our students must remain competitive in the fields of math and science.
In April I hosted a Math and Science Summit to bring together stakeholders and start a dialogue about the importance of math, engineering, technology and science (METS) both to our children's future and to our state's ability to compete in tomorrow's global economy.
Following the summit I appointed members to the Math and Science Alliance. This interim working group has been tasked with developing an action plan to improve METS learning, achievement and public awareness across our state. The group will use strategies and suggestions originated at the summit to identify new ways to enhance METS learning, participation and cooperation.
I recently launched a METS website to provide resources to parents and educators highlighting the need to improve our METS education across Missouri classrooms and to increase public awareness about this critical situation. By visiting the METS website at http://gov.mo.gov/mets/ you will see first hand the compelling need to provide our children with the necessary skills to become leaders and active participants in the global economy.
Statistics show that by 2010 more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers in the world will be living in Asia. Engineering degrees in the United States have decreased by 20 percent since 1985, with five percent or fewer of our college-bound students expressing an interest in pursuing engineering degrees.
In the United States fourth graders score high in math when compared to other countries, but in Missouri our fourth graders' math scores rank in the bottom third nationally. Math scores of our eighth graders have also declined in national assessments, ranking Missouri below 34 other states.
Less than half of Missouri's high school students meet ACT college-readiness benchmarks in biology and algebra. Missouri's juniors and seniors also lag behind the national average in taking advanced placement mathematics exams.
This is simply not good enough. Our state must make an investment in improving math and science education in our classrooms if we want to gain quality jobs and enhanced opportunities for Missourians in the future and if we plan to maintain our foothold in the global economy as a dynamic leader with a diverse and skilled workforce.