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Senator Robert C. Jubelirer's
Remarks
Science in Motion Program
A lot is written and said about
the need to have Pennsylvania students more interested in and more proficient in
the sciences. From that standpoint, Science in Motion is just about the perfect
program.
It provides access to the best
equipment and the best instruction. It makes science accessible and attractive
for the students. The people involved in the program exude a contagious
enthusiasm. Beakers, test tubes, and DNA testing may never be as widely popular
as NASCAR, but in this age of remarkable technological and medical advances, we
cannot afford to have science education as narrowly focused as studying
Sanskrit.
When you get a glimpse at what
this program offers, it is a good reminder that reading about scientific
concepts is no substitute for live demonstrations or hands-on experience. The
tongue-tying names of some of the equipment, and the amazing things that can be
done, let us know this is not our childhood Mr. Science chemistry set.
You look at the issues and
opportunities we confront in technology, in health care, in the environment, in
modern manufacturing, and science literacy is a must.
The financial bottom-line is
one of pure value, because there is no way that the school districts served
could otherwise fit this kind of equipment and instruction into already
stretched-to-the-limit budgets.
That 2003 Innovation Award the
program collected meant something. It was a welcome validation of Pennsylvania
leadership in an essential facet of education. We are not about to let this
program vanish, like some finding lost in the dust of memory.
Despite the obvious value and
popularity of this program, each budget year starts with the same amount of
state funding committed – zero. Each year, legislators restore state funding,
and the institutions have done a good job of expanding their reach faster than
the funding flows. More vans running, more schools participating, more students
reached.
It is well past the
experimental stage. The proof is evident – Science in Motion is
learning-effective and cost-effective, the best dynamic duo this side of Batman
and Robin.
Credit goes to the colleges and
universities running the program, and to the schools who avail themselves of
this opportunity. But special mention must be made of the pioneer, Juniata
College, who gets high marks for innovation, for persistence, and for
salesmanship. That college, by the way, also hosted the National Science
Olympiad last year, further evidence of their commitment and leadership in
scientific education.
The Rendell Administration has
put a lot of stock in something called “best value” in awarding contracts. Our
suggestion is that they seize this opportunity to get “best value” out of a
slice of state education spending by embracing Science in Motion.
This is an extremely tough
budget year to be shopping for funding restoration, much less any sort of new
funding. But the cause is good, the case is solid, and we need to keep making
it over and over, until state government gets it right, and students get the
result they should be guaranteed.
 
News Release
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Sen. Robert Jubelirer participates in a
May 11 news conference in the Capitol's East Wing to promote the "Science in
Motion" program in Pennsylvania.
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