Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/42291
ABOVE: Teresa Casallas' students in Bakersfield roll a die to determine who goes first in a science challenge. "What's great about science is that students think about what might happen and develop a trial-and-error mental- ity that allows them to become critical thinkers," says CTA Board member Toby Boyd, a member of the Elk Grove Teachers Association. "Society has forgotten about the importance of problem-solving skills that will help chil- dren in the future and the workplace. Because of the lack of science instruction, we are now seeing students who are unable to show curiosity." When Boyd taught at Prairie Elementary School, the campus had a fully stocked science lab for students to conduct experiments. Due to budget cuts and increased emphasis on math and language arts, the science lab was "gutted," and science instruction practically disappeared. Many schools these days rely on after-school programs to teach science, says Boyd, because there isn't enough time in the regular day. Boyd was involved with an after-school program in his district called MESA (Mathematic, Engi- neering, Science Achievement). "If it wasn't for that after-school INSTRUCTION, WE ARE NOW SEEING STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SCIENCE WHO ARE UNABLE TO SHOW CURIOSITY. TOBY BOYD, CTA BOARD MEMBER FROM ELK GROVE enrichment program, I wouldn't have been able to expose children to things they needed to learn," he says. "Some- times I had 35 to 50 students who came to learn about science, in grades from kindergarten to sixth grade." An Education Week article, "Role of Science Learning Outside of School Grows," confirms that schools are indeed turning to outside sources such as muse- ums, astronomy and robotics clubs, after-school programs, and science competitions. This benefits children who have access to such enrichment opportunities, but many stu- dents are not being exposed to science at all, says Boyd. "It's too bad. You never know whose light might be turned on by science and who will come up with the cure for cancer or a technological wonder that will help man- kind unless they are given the opportunity." ABOVE: Jose Alvarenga records data for Camille McGee and Alyson Bravo in Bakersfield. September 2011 / www.cta.org 15