THE
HEALTH CRISIS
Proper
fitness and wellness is so important in a society of sendentary
life styles, fast food, and demanding pressures.
"Indeed,
hypertension, high cholesterol, “diabesity”
associated with sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diets
and excessive stress have now reached pandemic proportions.
And these pandemics make the bird flu look like
a picnic in the park. Many of our overweight children
already have
hypertension and will acquire Type II diabetes
within the next 10 years."
Cleaves
M. Bennett, M.D
THE
ENERGY CRISIS
Our
fossil fuel supply is not replinishing and people are
angry about the rising costs for gas and electricity.
Alternative forms of energy exist and we should move much
more quickly in that direction.
OCEAN
CRISIS
We
used to think our ocean was too big to hurt. Not true.
Our ocean is dying (Ocean
In Crisis, Amrica's
Ocean In Crisis, Destructive
Fishing Causing Ocean Crisis). We need comprehensive
world-wide collaboratives to turn it around.
JOB
CRISIS
The
nation's economy has nearly 79,000 fewer private-sector
jobs than when President George W. Bush took office (Job
Crisis in America, The
Job Crisis). What’s more, the 7.7 million officially
unemployed represents only about 57 percent of all U.S.
workers—approximately 13.6 million, according to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—who are either
unemployed, underemployed in part-time jobs out of economic
necessity or who have become so discouraged that they
have given up looking for work. Further, a vast majority
of jobs that are going to be available in the future will
require a college education a involve science, engineering
or technology applications. Where are the people who can
only perform at service level jobs going to go?
EDUCATION
CRISIS
And
most significantly of all, we are facing a true crisis
in our educational system. The crisis in science and technology
education (Rising
Above the Gathering Storm, The
Quiet Crisis in Education, Math&Science Education
Alert) clearly shows that less and less science and
technology courses are being taught in schools at upper
grade levels (Benchmarks
for Scientific Literacy, Project 2061,TIMSS
Report). Student statewide and national science test
scores are mediocre at best (Nation’s
Report Card). Our country is rapidly declining in
the number of scientists and engineers we produce. It
is no wonder we are falling behind in technology research
and development (Time,
2006, What
Scientist Shortage).
Science,
math, health, and technology education can make
all the difference in alleviating the crises that
lead to a degradation our society.
If
this nation is to maintain a top position in the world
market we need to increase student interest in science
and technology and foster programs that excite and educate
on local, state, and national levels (e.g., Exxon
Mobil Math Science Expansion). Informal learning in
science, mathematics, and technology is where we learn
most of what we know (Science
is Everywhere, LIFE
Center). Creating new kinds of informal learning environments
that go beyond the traditional classroom can have a profound
impact on the future of our country.
