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Hernando Today

Schools, Don't Cut Science Fair Funds

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By NAVA COHEN

Special to Hernando Today

Published: June 12, 2008

The cutting of elementary science fair funds in Hernando County school system will have a negative impact on the students. Isn't Challenger the "School of Science and Mathematics?" And what about J.D. Floyd Elementary, aren't they dubbed "K-8 School of Environmental Science?" What will become of these schools when the science fair budget is cut?

I am a former student of the Hernando County school system and I am also a former participant of both Science Fair and History Fair from first grade straight to 12th grade. Not only has science fair improved my researching skills, but it has built guidance, determination, independence and friendships along the way.

I still remember my elementary school science fair projects - finding out the difference between primary and secondary colors and what makes up secondary colors; the eye and how different visual fields are impacted by different obstacles and even making a tinfoil robot as part of another project.

Even though these projects are simple scientific experiments, they helped build a foundation for my three years of science fair in middle school dealing with whitening toothpaste and which is better for teeth; to my high school projects dealing with how much Florida history is retained after the state requirement of learning about it in fourth grade, to stress in adolescents, and divorce rates and its impact on students.

These high school projects led to my participation in state Science and Engineering Fair, and even to International Science and Engineering Fair, experiences that are once in a lifetime.

Students need guidance, especially with the Internet-native generation clicking away at television remotes and video games. Science fair and history fair provide an environment for students to learn and to succeed in educational fields rather than in athletics. Cutting elementary science fair budget is a mistake. In today's Tampa Tribune, Hernando Today section (June 11), local FCAT science scores are "still low."

What will cutting science fair at the elementary school level do to improve these scores? If anything, encouraging students to pursue science fair should be taking place, and more money should be going to academic programs such as science fair and history fair, rather than money being taken away.

Because of science fair and history fair, I have taken from this county and its teachers valuable lessons on research, writing techniques, and application techniques that have provided for a better educational experience in college. Look at where some of Hernando County's science fair and history fair participant graduates have gone to - we have former participants at MIT, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, Columbia, University of Florida and University of Central Florida.

These are top schools in the country as well as schools in the state of Florida. Some are on science fair scholarships because of their outstanding projects at State Science and Engineering Fair competition. Science fair helped make this possible.

Cutting budgets so that science fair participants do not have a district competition gives no reason for students to do their best if they are only going to compete at the school level among their peers. Providing a district competition allows students to meet others who are interested in similar projects and might even provide ideas for future projects. If anything, cutting the budget limits the social interaction among students at a district level besides impacting the science fair experience. I understand that budget cuts and funding are significantly reduced because money is lacking, but why cut a program that has helped so many children flourish over the years?

Nava Cohen

University of Central Florida student

Class of 2008 Springstead High School

Class of 2005 Science Fair participant 1993 to 2005

History Fair participant 1999 to 2005

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