It is widely known that a crisis in science and mathematics teaching exists in the United States. This crisis has reached all levels of education, from elementary to secondary to colleges and universities. The problem, which is easy to define but difficult to resolve, is trifold: there are not enough high-quality science and mathematics teachers; present teachers are teaching out-of field or are out-of-date and in need of subject updating; and the average education graduate is only minimally qualified to teach science and math. These factors have caused national and state “alarms” to be published that point out the increasing mediocrity and an overall lack of science education in our nation’s schools.

Central Michigan University, long among the nation’s leaders in the training of teachers at all levels, is taking steps to remedy this alarming situation. A Science and Mathematics Teaching Center, designed to confront the problem head-on, has been founded. The Center’s major purpose is to improve the quality of science and math teaching. This goal is being accomplished through a series of workshops, seminars, in-service programs, conferences, and teacher outreach programs.