A mere two weeks ago we announced our newest school assembly program, The STEM Museum. We must have touched a nerve. Already the tour for the 2013-2014 school year is experiencing overwhelming demand. In fact this awesome new school show is getting close to being sold out in the Midwest and East and West coast dates are close behind. Only a few dates remain available for Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Illinois. In some states we have only one or no dates left at all.

And small wonder.

As we march inexorably toward the first days of a new school year, many of us are faced with searching out ideas for school assemblies and shows to bolster the curriculum while providing a welcome break from class time for students and teachers alike. Moreover, in these days of rising costs and shrinking budgets, field trips are more and more a rapidly fading memory for many schools. So the search is on for the best possible use of what limited funds remain in order to provide students with the best bang for the buck.

Sometimes I try to teach something to my kids. You ever try that? They get that weird look on their face that kind of looks like they just inhaled a terrible smell. More often than not, since they have gotten older, I barely get out more than a few words before they realize my intent is that they might learn something, and then “wham!” they are either gone from the room, or changing the subject.

STEM stands for The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics coalition. If you are still ignorant of in regard to this organization let me try to help out.

I came across this picture today. It shows a very young astronaut named John Glenn standing next to one of the early space capsules that took our brave young pilots into space for the first time. He is in the company of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie Kennedy. For those too young to remember, those were heady days filled with excitement, energy, enthusiasm and pride.

Science is not the same as science fiction, but they certainly have one thing in common. Both focus on our future. Actual science is the underpinning of technology and advancements in almost every field effecting our health, economy and survival. And when it comes to real science, American students are not doing so well.