Help! Turn the Question Mark into an EXCLAMATION point for Project Exploration and STEM!
ALL call for comments!
Blogger and education reporter Alex Russo did a shout out about Project Exploration on District 299 — but titles it with a question mark. ”
He writes, “Sounds nice – but relatively small given the size of CPS. Ever seen the program at work? Got anything to say about it? You know what to do.”
Please visit this link and say something!
2 Responses to Help! Turn the Question Mark into an EXCLAMATION point for Project Exploration and STEM!
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You seriously added a question mark? Who are you to question Project Exploration’s Kudos? Project exploration deserves every award, grant, and help they received and more. As a Project Exploration student and employee that question just hurt my heart. The work PE does is beyond measure. They are consistent mentors, teachers, friends, and a second family. They are always there through every step, and change in your life. Once apart of PE you are always apart of PE. I was sixteen when PE became apart of my life and they are still apart of my life 10 years later. PE is not like other programs where you’re apart of it and once you graduate high school it’s over. No PE is loyal to you as we are to them no matter what. What program do you know that loves their kids so much that they never let go? You can’t think of any, so stop trying! 95% of PE students have graduated, or are on track to graduate. 50% of these students are enrolled in a four-year institution, or have already graduated. 60% are pursuing, or have already received, degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM); and 32% hold science-related employment. Beyond the facts Project Exploration is a life changing environment. I was a shy quiet kid, who lived in Englewood and I needed somewhere to escape. PE was my escape. PE gave me a voice I didn’t know I had. They made me love writing more then ever before. Writing about my experiences in a journal and sharing with friends and scientist, that was important to me. That helped me to speak out and have confidence. I always loved science and they just put the icing on the cake and gave me opportunities I would not have as a regular CPS student. Through Project Exploration they help push you down the path to your dreams. In Englewood a lot of dreams have been deferred due to economics, geography, and not having the right social environment. Because of PE and programs like it a dream is never deferred, but accomplished beyond your heart’s desire. I’m grateful for Project Exploration, and they are truly changing the face of science.
Project Exploration is TRULY leading the way in regard to quality STEM programming in out of school time. On the surface, you are correct that the overall number of students served seems low when compared to the size of the CPS student population. However, Project Exploration is all about quality vs quantity. When dealing with students, particularly those from struggling communities, personal connections and mentorship are the basis for meaningful learning, this is what PE is all about. Their model has been acclaimed nationwide from other non for profits to the White House. It is my hope that as PE and organizations like it continue to grow, that their model becomes scalable. The publishing of their 10 year longitudinal study cites AMAZING statistics in regard to the sustainable success their students achieve after leaving PE to go onto 4 yr colleges and careers in science fields. Again, you are correct, PE does not serve 1,000′s of students each year but in fairness, they are not making hamburgers, they creating the next generation of thinkers, innovators, leaders and scientists. Thanks for the discussion points and cheers to all those working to give the students of Chicago a meaningful education.