Good news everyone, somebody gives a damn about the future!

Obama gave a press conference today about science. It was 15 minutes of things I’ve ranted about on this blog for months – that not only is science education fundamental to the future of this country, but it’s fundamental to advancing society as a whole.

It’s worth watching and noting that this isn’t just a government effort, but something smartly interwoven into business, television, science celebrities and more – the kind of co-effort and cooperation that it takes to really make something of this magnitude succeed.

I particularly like when Obama says “it’s about the ability to understand our world…to think critically.” When contrasted against where our country and government had been heading the previous eight years, when contrasted against debate and discussion in society today, that’s a 180 degree turn in behavior that I’d like to see.

This campaign, called “Educate to Innovate” which in turn has another buzz word attached with it called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) will be the focal point to drive America back to the top in science education.

It sounds like a number of efforts are underway, and more are getting ready to kick off – so hopefully this won’t be a lot of smoke, mirrors, and rhetoric. Though it seems funny to have this push when NASA is having its budgets flayed. I’m not quite sure how you justify the diminishing of the most visible and premiere showcase of science, math, engineering and technology in light of this speech.

Judging by the talks with friends, peers, coworkers, and family everyone seems quite fed-up with the current financial escapades. Savings, retirements, 401Ks and job security is in the proverbial toilet. There’s a lot of anger put precious little understanding of how we got here or who should bear the brunt of said anger.

It’s safe to assume we got here by not understanding what was going on behind the scenes. Wouldn’t it have been nice if someone could have pulled back the curtain – if not to avert the looming disaster, to at least gird ourselves better against the fallout?

Well, get ready for the next shit storm. Read carefully intrepid… er… reader, for the next big thing is coming down the pike and here’s your chance to be the first to look behind the curtain!

Science and mathematics education is a keystone of American society. Unless you live on a remote farm and are self-sustaining, you depend on the end result and output of very technical pursuits. An education system that produces quality engineers, scientists, and a generally informed public is paramount to keeping up this comparatively luxurious lifestyle that you enjoy day in and day out.

Cutting to the chase: Phase 1 of breaking up this foundation is currently underway in Texas, specifically the Texas Board of Education and their undermining of the science education standards. “How can one state screw the whole country,” you ask yourself? Texas is big. Their standards determine the textbooks that will be purchased in affordable amounts across the US (the more you print of one thing the cheaper it gets). When a state like Texas sets an education standard and determines which textbooks will be used invariably most other states follow suit.

If you remember the shenanigans that went on in Kansas (which spawned the Flying Spaghetti Monster meme) and Delaware (which spawned the amazing Kitzmiller v Dover case), then you will have a fundamental understanding of the debate going on in Texas.

Don’t be distracted by a protracted debate on the merits or demerits of religion. That’s a red herring. What we have here is a bastardizing of the foundations of science education, of teaching,  and explaining the scientific method, and ultimately the shaping of minds of individuals who will grow up and create things that are essential to your life (like the internet and all its underlying protocols). A few Protestant fundamentalists (who have been waging this fight since the late 1800′s in America) stand to alter something that will have expanding repercussions as surely as tossing a rock in a pond makes ripples.

So what can you do about it? Get informed. Get involved. Understand what is at stake. If you have the initiative contact your representatives and tell them what you think.

This will have far greater impact than being out of a job or having no savings now. We’re talking about the next and future generation(s) of scientists and engineers being given a foundation of bullshit upon which to build.

This will affect you. This is not going away. So what are you going to do?