Astronaut and Kansas native Steve Hawley (top left in this NASA photo) is returning to Kansas to teach physics at the University of Kansas.
According to the Lawrence Journal-World,
Hawley, a Salina native, received a doctoral degree from the University of California. He said one of his primary missions in Kansas would be to promote the benefits of advanced scientific degrees to students across the state.
Hawley is retiring this May from a 30-year career with NASA. He'll shift his focus from opening up new frontiers in space to opening young minds to the possibilities of careers in math and science.
Our state motto is "Ad Astra Per Aspera" - "To the Stars, Through Difficulty." Hawley has been closer to the stars than most other native Kansans. Can Hawley help Kansas through its difficulties in teaching REAL science in the classroom?
University of Kansas chancellor Bob Hemenway noted that:
...the number of teacher licenses in chemistry, biology and physics had plummeted in recent years. Schools recruit overseas to fill teaching vacancies in science and math jobs.
"Science education is vital to the future of this state and nation," he said. "We need people like Steve to build a new excitement and urgency about science and math education."
"Science education is vital to the future of this state and nation," he said. "We need people like Steve to build a new excitement and urgency about science and math education."
This development seems to be in the right direction for science education in Kansas. On the other hand, there are bills before the Kansas Legislature right now which are (unintelligently) designed to lower the standards for teacher certification in Kansas. (Post forthcoming on that issue.)
posted by Cheryl Shepherd-Adams
