The governor doesn't believe in education. The Army put up 75% the money and the state did nothing.
I have enjoyed visiting Fort Discovery for the past 13 years. My nephews, ages 13 and 7, along with my wife and I, have learned more about math and science from the brilliant and wonderful staff of Fort Discovery than I have learned in high school and college. They make math and science fun, which, if you have been in a classroom, is a nigh-impossible accomplishment.
As a computer programmer, I know the importance of so-called "STEM" education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). "Allocat(ing) those resources to accomplish our national mission," as their CEO, Rob Dennis, said in his Aug. 29 Chronicle interview, does absolutely nothing to educate the children here in Augusta, which is what we desperately need. Georgia, abysmally, checks in near the bottom in state STEM scores, and to solve this problem, Fort Discovery is going to help everyone but Georgia? And, according to the same Aug. 29 interview, the state has actually reduced the funding to Fort Discovery.
I understand that these are financially challenging times, but I find it extremely difficult to understand why Gov. Sonny Perdue and the state legislature would find hands-on math and science education that exceeds national standards to be a waste of time and money. They should be ashamed of themselves that they have allowed this to happen. Mayor Deke Copenhaver, the Augusta Commission, and every Augusta citizen should be ashamed of themselves as well.
With Fort Discovery, Augusta has a rare and precious opportunity to inspire today's children to become tomorrow's innovators. If the governor and the mayor had any real interest in STEM education, they would not allow Fort Discovery to capsize. It is not just a museum -- it is an investment in the future of our city, our state, and our nation. I pray it's not too late.
Kyle Burton
Evans
Comments
The governor doesn't believe in education. The Army put up 75% the money and the state did nothing.
The first step in properly funding Ft Discovery is to get the Army completly out of the picture. The Army has been paying GS-12s, 13, and 14s to do relative little at Ft Disovery, though Ft Disvoery has NO relation to the mission of the Army. Those are high paying federal civilian jobs that could be better used in the Army's REAL mission of fighting the wars we are involved in and/or keeping the peace.
Hit the road Jack....who do you think is going to serve in our military. The very same students who need the math and science skills to do the jobs that are required of them...and NOT just for the military but for any industry. So any entity, private or public, that wants to succeed in the future has to make investments in the very people who they will employ, our students. As for the Army personnel, go talk to them or walk a mile in their shoes since you don't have a clue what their mission is or what they do.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
