Many students across the United States struggle with school. New Mexico is trying to do something to correct their students’ problem. New Mexico’s math and reading scores for eighth-grade students have remained flat and fall well below the national average. In 2016, 86% entering two-year colleges and 41% entering four-year colleges required remediation in English, math, or both. Students who are required to take one single remedial course are three times less likely to graduate. These are not great statistics for our future workforce.
There is a Solution
Beginning in middle school, we can teach New Mexico students classical, world-class physics (not our own recollection of Physics in high school – we’re talking about introducing the concepts of math and science in a real-world, hands-on approach that has seen success across the country and in the world).
This simple change will transform the technical workforce in New Mexico. There’s a proven, easy-to-implement program already in place in several states. This program will greatly change New Mexico’s student performance (if they’re given access to it), so they are prepared and confident about their futures.
Physics in a Box
This program is called Physics in a Box, and it’s not just about traditional high school physics the way we may remember it. It provides the tools, curriculum, and training that allows teachers to learn and teach their students in a fashion that elicits engagement, intellectual curiosity, and creative problem solving—essential skills for the leaders of future innovation. Each box in the program (four levels) is designed to promote an understanding of concepts that translate to items encountered in daily life using hands-on experiments.
The Best News
Right now, Physics in a Box is in front of New Mexico’s legislative board. Within the next few weeks, they will vote on whether to help New Mexico’s students succeed, or allow them to continue to lag behind the rest of the US and the world.
This revolutionary legislation will provide matching grants to school districts that wish to provide professional development and materials (physical experiment boxes) for teachers to introduce physics education into sixth through eighth-grade.
The Details
Appropriation for Early Physics Education
Sponsor: Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
The goal: To pilot the Physics in a Box Program during fiscal years 2021-2025 through the Public Education Department for impact of early education physics on academic performance in all subject areas and encourage interest in post-secondary careers in science and mathematics. Impact assessment and validation will apply.
How Can You Help?
Spread the word! Reach out to your children’s schools (or your school if you’re an educator) and ask them to take a look at Physics in a Box. Today’s kids will thank you by being stronger leaders of our future!
