Thursday, April 13, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt’s School Stop Emphasizes Hands on Math and Science Learning
COLUMBIA–Gov. Matt Blunt visited the Columbia Area Career Center’s Advanced Animal Science Class and met with teachers and educators to discuss benefits of hands-on learning in math, science and related fields.
“Missouri is only just beginning to reach our potential in health sciences and biotechnology sectors, areas that truly hold limitless possibilities for our state and economy. If we are to compete in the global marketplace, we must complement efforts underway to attract new businesses and high quality, high paying jobs to our state by ensuring our students are well prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders ,“ Blunt said. “Math and science learning that sparks our students’ interest, like the hands on applications modeled at the Columbia Area Career Center, will help our state and our young people reach their full potential.“
Blunt visited with a class of juniors and seniors working on a research project on FoodBorne Pathogens. In addition to offering real life applications in high level skills such as trigonometry, calculus, biology, and chemistry, the Area Career Center also provides a clear connection with industry. Courses have industry advisory panels to ensure they are offering students real skills needed for professional or postsecondary opportunities.
Blunt will convene a Math and Science Summit later this month to bring educators, businesses and private organizations together to discuss ways to improve student knowledge and achievement in the areas of math, engineering, technology and science to better prepare tomorrow’s leaders for the global economy.
Ideas and information gathered at school stops Blunt is making across the state will be incorporated into the governor’s Math and Science Summit.
As governor, Blunt has made education his top budget and policy priority. Blunt’s budget this fiscal year provided a $158 million funding increase for public schools and he led the successful effort to craft a new needs-based school funding formula. He has proposed a $167 million funding increase for schools for the next fiscal year and a $17.1 million funding increase for colleges and universities. The governor’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative will also generate $450 million dollars to enhance learning opportunities for students across the state and provide the basis to ensure Missouri remains a leader in the plant and biotechnology industry.
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