ER IC H A N SO N Currently, the U.S. is enjoying the best economic period— ever. Now is the time, then, to address the substantive challenges in elementary (K–12) education; if we can’t now remedy the problems with all our resources, the alternative is simply unthinkable. And who better to spearhead the federal government’s initiative than Astronaut-extraordinaire, John Glenn (Rep.-Oh). Glenn’s unimpeachable integrity will enable him to build bipartisan consensus for the biggest change in public education in 200 years. Glenn will go down in the history books as the man who fixed K–12 education in the U.S. Quite a set of expectations to lay on someone. If anyone can do it, it’s Glenn. At President Clinton’s request, Glenn formed The National Commission on K–12 Science and Math Education (www.ed.gov/americacounts/glenn/toc.html), with luminaries such as President of Intel Craig Barrett and Senator Ted Kennedy. The Commission is holding public hearings around the country and listening to what folks think needs to be done about public education in the U.S.