Cambridge, MA--In an effort to engage parents and educators in discussion on current educational issues, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Council on Primary and Secondary Education and the Museum of Science have teamed up to offer a Forum on Public Education with an initial talk featuring John C. Rennie, founder of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and Chairman and CEO of Pacer Systems, Inc. of Billerica. Rennie will speak on: Education Reform in Massachusetts and the Nation: How Are We Doing? from 4:00-6:00 pm on Monday, March 11 at MIT in room 6-120. All are welcome.
"Jack Rennie is widely recognized for bringing the entrepreneurial spirit usually found in start-up companies to educational reform," said MIT Professor Ron Latanision, Chairman of the MIT Council on Primary and Secondary Education.
Rennie and the Massachusetts Business Alliance successfully led a five-year push for sweeping reform in the state's K-12 education system, resulting in the Massachusetts Public Education Reform Act of 1993. "The Alliance's report, 'Every Child a Winner,' served as the blueprint for education reform in Massachusetts and as a national call to arms," said Latanision. "Jack Rennie is the model of corporate statesmanship. We are delighted that he will join us as the Forum's first speaker."
"We hope that the Forum will provide the public with an opportunity to meet and talk with education reform leaders from Massachusetts and elsewhere," said David Ellis, President of the Museum of Science. Different talks will be scheduled throughout the spring at the Museum of Science and at MIT.
"Massachusetts is unique in that while most states are exploring education reform, our state already has in place a mandate for reform in the 1993 legislation, a National Science Foundation sponsored statewide systemic initiative, Partnerships Advancing the Learning of Mathematics and Science (PALMS), and a School-to-Work grant, for example," said Ellis. "The Commonwealth is in a position to serve the interests of all its children and many under-skilled adults as well."
The 45-minute talk by Rennie will be followed by a question and answer period and reception.
