Hi. Please respond to the following alert, which just arrived from the
NSTA. For most high school physics teachers, Ike funds are the ONLY source
of professional development in physics. Last year the Senate voted to get
rid of Ike funds, too, and the many phone calls from teachers and
professors got the Ike funds reinstated. We shouldn't have to take this
action every year, but it seems we need to.
Personally, I find it easier to call my Congressmen at their home office,
rather than in Washington. Look in the blue pages (US Govt) of the phone
book.
Cheers,
Jane Jackson
---------------------------
From: Ann Wild <Ann.Wild@nsta.org>
Subject: ALERT: Eisenhower Funding in Jeopardy
To: NSTA.Legislative.Network@driver.nsta.org (1)
Organization: National Science Teachers Assn.
NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
***SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE***
September 11, 1997
If you are reading this message as a pass-along and
would like to subscribe on your own, read the free
subscription details at the end of this update.
_________________________________
ALERT ****** ALERT ******** ALERT
In a very unexpected turn of events, the Senate has
voted to combine MOST Department of Education
programs---INCLUDING the Eisenhower Professional
Development Program---into a single $11 billion K-12
block grant fund that would be distributed by formula
to states based on the size of the school population
and the number of students living in poverty.
A "stunned" Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who obviously
voted against the block grant, is quoted in today's
Education Daily as saying, "I don't know how many
people know what we've just done here. There are no
requirements on how this money is to be spent...."
If the block grant provision prevails, this would
likely mean a loss of professional development funds
for science teachers. Until now, the first $250
million earmarked each year for the Eisenhower
Professional Development Program is to support
professional development activities for K-12 teachers
of science and math.
In the original version of the authorization bills in
both the Senate and House, as reported to the floor,
the Eisenhower program was slated to receive $310
million for fiscal 1998, which begins in a few weeks,
on October 1, 1997. Yesterday's Senate vote would
change all this.
This block grant provision came as an amendment to
the large appropriations bill (S 1061) that the Senate
passed yesterday. Included in the bill is funding for
all Department of Education activities, including the
Eisenhower program, for fiscal 1998.
The House will vote NEXT WEEK on its version of the
education appropriations bill (HR 2664). It is very
important to remember that the Republican-dominated
House has traditionally been a supporter of block
grants.
NOW IS THE TIME TO LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.
As soon as possible, CALL the office of your
representative. Your can reach your representative
through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Ask him or her to vote AGAINST the block grant
provision and keep the Eisenhower Professional
Development Program as a SEPARATE program in the
Department of Education. Voice your personal support
for the Eisenhower program. Be sure to give your name.
A second, but less reliable, option is to e-mail your
representative. You can get the e-mail address of
those representatives who have one at
BE SURE TO SIGN your e-mail message with your full
name and home (voting) address to demonstrate you are
a constituent.
However, be aware that at this point different
Congressional offices treat incoming e-mail messages
differently. Some offices pay more attention to them
than others. So phoning is a BETTER approach.
If you write a letter, do so TODAY since the House vote
is coming up very soon, and your letter could arrive
too late. Letters can be addressed to
Honorable (firstname lastname)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510
You should also call (use phone number above) or
write to your TWO senators expressing your displeasure
with the block grant vote. Voice your support for the
Eisenhower Professional Development Program as a
separate program that is very important and useful to
you and your colleagues, and ultimately your students.
Write to your senators at
Honorable (firstname lastname)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515
PLEASE DON'T PASS UP THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN. CONGRESS
DOES PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT CONSTITUENTS THINK.
IN EFFECT, THEY COUNT "NOSES" ON A GIVEN ISSUE.
NSTA will keep you posted on further developments as
they occur. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
Jane Jackson (Prof. of Physics, Scottsdale Comm. College--on leave)
Dept.of Physics, Box 871504, Arizona State Univ.,Tempe AZ 85287-1504.
jane.jackson@asu.edu (602)965-8438 FAX:965-7331
Modeling Workshop Project: http://modeling.la.asu.edu/modeling.html