BoardBuzz recently wrote about whether engineering should have a place in the school curriculum. And, of course, we think it should. But as the National Academy of Engineering says, engineering is often the missing letter in STEM education. So BoardBuzz was pleasantly surprised to learn that Derby Public Schools in Kansas will begin a pilot program next year to bring aerospace engineering lessons to an elementary school.
The district already participates in Project Lead the Way, a national program that provides a rigorous, relevant STEM education, at three of its schools. As the Wichita Eagle reports:
By offering the engineering classes, Derby school leaders said they hope to spark students’ interest in math and science by providing hands-on and computer-based activities.
“Half didn’t even know what engineering was,” said Christopher Shetlar, who teaches a high school engineering course. “As things get going, they like it a little more.”
BoardBuzz hopes this is just the beginning. With Race to the Top funds available to states, now is the perfect time to lead the way in innovation and STEM education.
