Glenn: Math, science underappreciated

By Emily Richmond

Wednesday, April 24, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

If famed astronaut and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn had his way, teachers would earn at least as much as their classmates from college, students wouldn't have to rely on property taxes for funding and a high school diploma would mean the same thing in Seattle as in Miami.

Glenn, a featured speaker Tuesday at the 80th annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, said America's mathematics and science teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. As a result of the country's refusal to acknowledge the importance of math and science education, Americans will lose out on high-tech job opportunities here and abroad, Glenn said.

Glenn, who orbited Earth in 1962 and returned to space in 1998 at age 77, said it was his high school civics teacher who inspired him to get into politics.

"It's the teachers who inspire the kids to stay in school, to do their homework, to learn," Glenn said. "That's why we have to do everything we can to make sure the teachers we have are qualified, dedicated professionals."

In 1950 80 percent of the jobs in America were classified as unskilled, Glenn said. Toda 85 percent of jobs require at least some fundamental knowledge of math and science, he said.

The federal government should be doing more to ensure America's schools are well-maintained, the teachers fairly paid and the students equally educated, Glenn said. Students in poorer states shouldn't lose out on opportunities because their communities rake in less on property taxes, Glenn said.

The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Education, of which Glenn is the past chairman, released a report in January 2001 with aggressive recommendations for fixing the shortcomings of America's schools. According to the report, 30 percent of math and science teachers in urban schools quit within two years and 50 percent leave within five years. Teachers earn an average of 29 percent less than their college classmates, the report found.

"I would say the emergency is already here," Glenn said.

A four-term senator from Ohio, Glenn gave his speech to an audience of more than 2,000 educators at the Venetian. It was sponsored by the Radio Shack National Teacher Awards.