Educators and experts gather to discuss the state of math education and how to keep students invested in STEM
Changing the way math content is presented to students and ensuring teachers feel empowered in their math instruction are two important steps to elevating math education in the U.S., according to a panel of educators and experts who gathered for a Discovery Education thought leadership event to launch Discovery’s Math Techbook.
“There is no more important job in America than the job of a schoolteacher,” said Tom Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor, during the event. “It’s about showing endless possibilities. It’s about recognizing that different people learn differently, and learning by doing is such an important component of that.”
Career and technical education has somehow been devalued in the nation, Perez said, and focusing on STEM education is one way to elevate that career path.
“There are multiple pathways to the middle class. As we redouble our efforts in the STEM context, to repair this leaky pipeline, [we have to realize] we’re losing too many kids at an early age,” he said. “So, we must start with the notion that every child is gifted and talented.”
(Next page: Highlights from the panel discussion about math education)