President Bush's recent State of the Union address targeted a hot topic in education — the status of math and science education in America. The president urged that we improve training for science teachers and enhance K-12 mathematics and science education.

While I applaud these initiatives from the nation's top office, we as parents and educators have the ultimate responsibility to implement these important and fundamental changes at the local level. Indeed, we are the critical connection that will bring improvement to our classrooms and the encouragement to our boys and girls to excel in mathematics and science. Our children must expect no less from their parents, educators and community members.

In a report issued by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and Institute of Medicine on "Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future," the committee focused in part on increasing the talent pool by educating our young people on the topics of math and science. The report states that the United States' advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode.

In a world where knowledge is power, it is not enough to rest on past successes. John Marburger III, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said, "This is not about going up against China or India." Rather, he suggests, Americans will always face economic challengers.

We must prepare our children to be innovators, investigators and researchers if our freedom-loving life and the American way is to continue to grow and evolve. Preparation begins by encouraging our children to develop their natural curiosity and teaching them to ask tough questions and pursue interesting research. This process begins at a very young age.

The basic building block for a future researcher or mathematician is a strong and sound education. Every child has an inquisitive mind and loves to ask the question why. We falter, with irrevocable consequences, if that natural inquisitive desire is squelched by our lack of preparedness and encouragement.

As parents and educators, we must ensure that the solutions we implement focus equally on boys and girls. We should actively encourage girls, not just boys, to pursue classes that prepare them for careers in engineering, science, anthropology and aeronautics. Encouragement can be as simple as showing girls various women who have succeeded in these professions. It will also require firmness from the parents and teachers who must insist that boys and girls challenge themselves.

A foundation in math and science is critical if our children are to fully participate in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. Our hope for young people (and goal as parents and educators) is that they will investigate the cure for diseases, reach out to space exploration, solve energy and environmental issues and help feed the hungry.

Betty White is the head of school for Sacred Hearts Academy. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.