- 30 Dec 2010 23:37
#13589211
STEM = Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics.
The STEM initiative is the call to improve core subjects in America.
The reason as I see it, is fairly simple. The educational system in America as it is today, was created in part due to WWII. At that time it was imperative that people were educated enough to work in industrial plants to support the war effort. During that time the USA was a Military Industrial Complex.
The educational system has changed very little since that time, the needs and expectations of our work force however has. America has changed from a Military Industrial complex into a Military Technological Complex, as our industry, like many aspects of our lives, revolves around some kind of technology.
The factories, once ran with man power, has been given over to machines, computers and robots. We now find ourselves in a position where we have need of an educated workforce to run those same factories.
Further adding to the problem is the fact that technology has progressed at an exponential rate. Due to that fact, and due to the fact that the educational system has had little or no reform, our needs are more desperate than ever because the reform needed is also exponential.
Americas educational needs now has to reflect our technological position. This need is reflected in every portion of modern life, since every portion of our modern lifestyle has, in one way or another, changed with technology.
The burdens and responsibilities we now face, because of all this, will have direct consequences on the future of our country. Those consequences will be felt much sooner than later.
With the advent of STEM reform we will have the ability to compete, on an international level, against countries who have already undergone this transition. The rest of the world has been forced into this transition by the technological advancements we have introduced to it.
These countries saw they needed to change in order to survive and compete in a changing world, we now need to change as well or be phased out by the very forces that we created.
Educational reform will need to embrace new technologies and sciences in order to fill positions we desperately need, as well as prepare for new positions that do not yet exist.
With this new need, how will we change? What new frontiers will we open? How will it affect our social structure? Are we up to the task at hand?
The STEM initiative is the call to improve core subjects in America.
The reason as I see it, is fairly simple. The educational system in America as it is today, was created in part due to WWII. At that time it was imperative that people were educated enough to work in industrial plants to support the war effort. During that time the USA was a Military Industrial Complex.
The educational system has changed very little since that time, the needs and expectations of our work force however has. America has changed from a Military Industrial complex into a Military Technological Complex, as our industry, like many aspects of our lives, revolves around some kind of technology.
The factories, once ran with man power, has been given over to machines, computers and robots. We now find ourselves in a position where we have need of an educated workforce to run those same factories.
Further adding to the problem is the fact that technology has progressed at an exponential rate. Due to that fact, and due to the fact that the educational system has had little or no reform, our needs are more desperate than ever because the reform needed is also exponential.
Americas educational needs now has to reflect our technological position. This need is reflected in every portion of modern life, since every portion of our modern lifestyle has, in one way or another, changed with technology.
The burdens and responsibilities we now face, because of all this, will have direct consequences on the future of our country. Those consequences will be felt much sooner than later.
With the advent of STEM reform we will have the ability to compete, on an international level, against countries who have already undergone this transition. The rest of the world has been forced into this transition by the technological advancements we have introduced to it.
These countries saw they needed to change in order to survive and compete in a changing world, we now need to change as well or be phased out by the very forces that we created.
Educational reform will need to embrace new technologies and sciences in order to fill positions we desperately need, as well as prepare for new positions that do not yet exist.
With this new need, how will we change? What new frontiers will we open? How will it affect our social structure? Are we up to the task at hand?