WASHINGTON—A recommendation that Congress look into taking responsibility for pre-college education programs away from the National Science Foundation has caught the attention of the science community. But the suggestion from retiring Rep. Donald Fuqua (D-Fla.) that the Department of Education could better handle the job is viewed more as an attempt to stir up science educators than to take the Foundation out of the business of elementary and secondary school science.
In a brief discussion at their most recent meeting, several members of the National Science Board indicated the idea was worth considering. "The fact is," commented Tom Day, president of San Diego State University, "the NSF has been involved in secondary school science education for a generation and a half and the results have not been good."
The Foundation's top administrators bristle at any talk of removing pre-college education activities, which include support for museums, television series and research...
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