Monthly Archives: January 2010

Engineers losing their jobs with end of shuttle program: Would any want to be chemistry or physics teachers?

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Paul Cottle

With the imminent end of the space shuttle program, 7,000 of the program’s workers at the Kennedy Space Center will soon lose their jobs.  Many are engineers.  Would any want to be high school chemistry or physics teachers? Kennedy Space … Continue reading →

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State of the Union Address: on education

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Paul Cottle

From last night’s State of the Union address (a transcript is available at the New York Times): From the day I took office, I’ve been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious; such an effort would be too … Continue reading →

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Wednesday’s St. Pete Times lists end-of-course testing areas

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Paul Cottle

A story in Wednesday’s St. Petersburg Times lists the subjects that will be included in the House PreK-12 Policy Committee bill for end-of-course tests.  The “high-stakes” tests include Algebra I, Geometry and Biology I.  The “low-stakes” tests include English/language arts … Continue reading →

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Modest improvement in math and science achievement could boost US GDP by $41 trillion over 80 years: OECD report

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Paul Cottle

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the consortium of thirty developed nations that administers the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) studies of student achievement in reading, math and science, has released a report that argues that even … Continue reading →

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Education policy train getting ready to leave the station (Part 2): Senate education policy leader says “major changes” this legislative session

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Senate PreK-12 Policy Committee Chair Nancy Detert said there will be “major changes” for Florida’s public K-12 system this legislative session, and “not all of them will be welcome.”  So reports Gary Fineout in the Herald-Tribune (based in Sarasota, in … Continue reading →

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Merit pay for teachers a hot button issue: Orlando Sentinel

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Paul Cottle

I recommend giving Leslie Postal’s piece on merit pay for teachers in today’s Orlando Sentinel a careful read.  This will be one of the most explosive issues that our state will deal with this year.

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Florida Citizens for Science Annual Meeting Talk: “A Legislative Program for Science Education in Florida”

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Paul Cottle

I had the privilege of presenting a talk to the Florida Citizens for Science Board and some additional members and visitors on Saturday.  The power point for the talk, titled “A Legislative Program for Science Education in Florida,” is available … Continue reading →

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Good news: House PreK-12 Policy Chair says he will include EOC tests on chemistry and physics in his assessment/graduation bill

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Just a quick bulletin before I dash off to get ready for tomorrow’s trip to the Florida Citizens for Science meeting in Tampa:  Florida House PreK-12 Policy Committee Chair John Legg told St. Petersburg Times Gradebook reporter Jeff Solochek today … Continue reading →

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Lesson of ClimateGate is that science must be done in the open: “Nature”

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Paul Cottle

I was asked by several people if the exposure of awkward e-mails from the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit – known among climate change skeptics and others like me who enjoy a clever turn of phrase as “ClimateGate” … Continue reading →

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Education policy train getting ready to leave the station – will (non-biology) science even be on board?

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Landmark legislation on high school graduation and assessment policy will filed in both houses of the Florida Legislature shortly.  It will be the moment of truth for science in Florida’s schools. The Tampa Tribune quoted Florida Senate PreK-12 Committee Chair … Continue reading →

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