Bush Urges Study of Math and Science

President Bush told the nation’s students on Friday that if they studied math and science they would not be joining the "nerd patrol" but helping their own futures and the economic health of the United States.

"You know, a lot of people probably think math and science isn’t meant for me — it kind of seems a little hard, algebra," Mr. Bush said at a panel discussion, organized by the White House, outside Albuquerque at the Intel Corporation’s largest chip-making plant. "I can understand that, frankly."

But Mr. Bush urged people to heed the story of a high school senior on the panel, Nicole Lopez, who told the assembled crowd that she had joined gangs in her freshman year and was on the wrong road until two teachers, now her mentors, helped steer her toward math and science. Ms. Lopez said she would attend the University of New Mexico and planned to major in civil engineering.

"I hope people listening and hear Nicole’s story take a look at math and science," Mr. Bush said.

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/politics/04bush.html?_r=1&oref=login

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How Montanan’s are meeting the challenge: Rob and Terry Ryan’s STARS initiative ( Science and Technology At ouR Schools) Gifts Computers to Math Lab at Hamilton High School. http://www.matr.net/article-17912.html