Читать книгу Evaluation in Today’s World - Veronica G. Thomas - Страница 127

Russia’s launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to reach space and orbit the Earth, in 1957 was a major coup for the Soviet Union. It resulted in many U.S. policymakers feeling that the country was falling dangerously behind its Cold War rival in science and technology. The launch of Sputnik was so serious that then president Dwight D. Eisenhower appeared on national television to apologize to the country for its failure, and he promised a boost to U.S. science efforts. As a result, there was sizable investment in educational reform (especially science and technology), and the federal government approved $1 billion to enact the National Defense Education Act of 1958. This act funded curriculum development and new educational programs in mathematics, science, and foreign language. Additionally, funds were provided to evaluate these new initiatives.