Science teachers meet to urge more funding
More than 10,000 teachers are in Philadelphia to try to persuade the nation that science is important.
The city is the site through tomorrow of the 58th annual National Conference on Science Education, with educators from as far away as China and Britain networking, sharing teaching secrets, and boasting about the role of science in the classroom.
The four-day event comes two months after President Obama proposed his "Educate to Innovate" campaign to improve the participation of U.S. students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Christine Royce, a member of the National Science Teachers Association and chair of the education department at Shippensburg University, said studies show that math and reading are enhanced by science education.
"We know science matters, but we need to get the general person to realize that science matters," she said.
Carlos Contreras, U.S. education director of Intel Corp., said speaking out about the need to fund science education could bring about change.
"You have a lot more of a voice than you think," he told teachers during a "science town hall meeting" yesterday at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
Gov. Rendell, who also spoke, said Pennsylvania encourages hands-on science for all children, especially
The city is the site through tomorrow of the 58th annual National Conference on Science Education, with educators from as far away as China and Britain networking, sharing teaching secrets, and boasting about the role of science in the classroom.
The four-day event comes two months after President Obama proposed his "Educate to Innovate" campaign to improve the participation of U.S. students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Christine Royce, a member of the National Science Teachers Association and chair of the education department at Shippensburg University, said studies show that math and reading are enhanced by science education.
"We know science matters, but we need to get the general person to realize that science matters," she said.
Carlos Contreras, U.S. education director of Intel Corp., said speaking out about the need to fund science education could bring about change.
"You have a lot more of a voice than you think," he told teachers during a "science town hall meeting" yesterday at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
Gov. Rendell, who also spoke, said Pennsylvania encourages hands-on science for all children, especially
Phila. principals to work 12 months under new pact
The Philadelphia School District is changing its unusual practice of requiring principals to work only 10 months a year.
Principals in more than 100 of the district's highest-needs schools and all new hires will be required to work 12 months and will get paid 20 percent more in salary for the extra hours under a new contract approved by their union this week.
Under the three-year contract, veteran principals working 12 months a year in the most troubled schools will earn nearly $150,000 in the pact's third year. The most senior principals working 12 months in regular schools will earn nearly $140,000.
Those in high-needs schools who want to maintain a 10-month schedule can transfer to another school in the district, which has 284 schools. They will earn between $112,000 and $125,000 by the third year of the pact, depending on the size of their school.
Over time, with retirements and new hires, principals in the entire district will be on a 12-month calendar. District officials said the extra time would help reform efforts.
"Summer is critically important for professional development and other activity. The month of August is important to get ready for school opening," said Tomas Hanna, chief of staff.
The School Reform Commission will vote on the proposed pact next month. District officials did not have the cost of the contract last night.
Michael Lerner, head of the 700-member Commonwealth Association of School Administrators union - which
Principals in more than 100 of the district's highest-needs schools and all new hires will be required to work 12 months and will get paid 20 percent more in salary for the extra hours under a new contract approved by their union this week.
Under the three-year contract, veteran principals working 12 months a year in the most troubled schools will earn nearly $150,000 in the pact's third year. The most senior principals working 12 months in regular schools will earn nearly $140,000.
Those in high-needs schools who want to maintain a 10-month schedule can transfer to another school in the district, which has 284 schools. They will earn between $112,000 and $125,000 by the third year of the pact, depending on the size of their school.
Over time, with retirements and new hires, principals in the entire district will be on a 12-month calendar. District officials said the extra time would help reform efforts.
"Summer is critically important for professional development and other activity. The month of August is important to get ready for school opening," said Tomas Hanna, chief of staff.
The School Reform Commission will vote on the proposed pact next month. District officials did not have the cost of the contract last night.
Michael Lerner, head of the 700-member Commonwealth Association of School Administrators union - which