My kids elementary school teachers (U.S.A.) have expressed to me that it is ok if kids are not good at math, that math requires a special aptitude that only some people are blessed with. Interesting anecdote. That is certainly not a consistent with what has been expressed to me by some non-U.S. educators (e.g. Japan, China, Russia). Our kids need motivators to challenge themselves to learn math early if they want to have the opportunity to pursue STEM careers later. I had key motivating instructors in elementary and middle school that showed me what I could do with math and that I could learn it if I only tried to. That is very personal and anecdotal, and not easily generalized without a lot more data.
Yet, it seems that cultural attitudes can play a strong role in motivating our kids. The public relations behind the space program and cold war in the 1960s in the U.S. (and NATO nations and Soviet Block nations) were key motivators for the entire educational systems of those nations to promote the basic educational elements of STEM and motivate young minds to learn those skills to prepare themselves for future STEM careers.
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Richard Haimann P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE
Principal
Huntington Beach CA
(714) 377-7855
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-01-2014 10:29
From: Ranjith Ravindiran
Subject: STEM candidate
My message would be for parents to take away the iPhones and Android smartphones from kids who are not even in the middle school yet and encourage their kids to focus more on maths, reading and writing while they are still in the elementary school.
There are two sides to this coin. Local politicians, instead of paying lip service on school, teachers, and family values, just before the elections, should identify the schortcomings of the schools within their districts and make every effort to provide these districts with the resources and the skills needed to provide STEM education. Even in many parts of Maryland, school teachers sometimes have to spend their own money to buy supplies needed to meet all the requirements of the their class rooms. Not all parents can afford to buy everything on the "Recommended Purchase Lists" provided to all the parents throughout the state. If this is the situation in a relatively well-off state like Maryland, I can only imagine the situation in states that are not economically well off like Maryland is.
Also, in states likes Maryland, the school districts are too heavily dependent on local (County) property taxes. So, as an example, a 5th grader attending an elementary school in Howard County has access to far more resources and better skilled teachers than an equally smart and enthusiastic kid living in St. Mary's County.
If all things are equal across the U.S., and proper national standards, accompanied by the availability of the same level of resources and study environment for all school-attending kids, there wouldn't be a need for program like STEM to produce the number of engineers and scientists needed on annual basis to sustain the U.S. economy and meet the National Security needs at the same time.
There are too many examples around the world, from Canada to Sweden on how it is done differently.
Sincerely,
Ranjith
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Ranjith Ravindiran P.E., M.ASCE
PROJECT MANAGER
Louis Berger
Baltimore MD
(410) 468-4054
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-26-2014 15:23
From: Nancy Manley
Subject: STEM candidate
My Command has realized that the STEM candidate pool is drying up and has decided to figure out ways we can help develop more STEM graduates. What has your company or society done that has been successful that we could emulate? We all need to work together on this and can learn from each other where best to put our efforts.
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Nancy Manley P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE
US Air Force
Robins AFB GA
(478) 327-2900
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