Woodshop is a cool class, but will it help you excel in the workplace? There is no denying most schools core curriculum is seriously out dated. As the economy ventures into a new age of technology and scientific advancements, public education seems to be falling behind. STEM is not widely embraced by the public education system in the U.S. currently. According to a report at U.S. News and World Report, only 2,100 high schools out of 42,000 currently offer the Advanced Placement test in computer science. As these numbers decline, the need for STEM educated graduates rise. Part of the problem is that taking a class like woodshop will get you just as close to graduation as taking a basic math or science class like precalculus and biology. Although woodshop is nice, it’s not the future of this economy.
When we look at the future we have to look at the youth. How these kids are being educated is a big role in how our economy will unfold. If STEM education is not being implemented enough and shown more importance to then how can we expect them to succeed. Lucky there are many schools that see this deficit and are doing just that! By partnering with businesses and industries that are bridging the gap between this lack in education.
Implementing a change in the way we educate the youth can easily have a positive impact in the long run. Not only by placing more important on the sciences but also on the quality of education can change the way students view STEM education. It is much easier to test for science words than to test for science understanding. It is easy to memorize the parts of an atom but knowing how they interact with the space around them is where the true learning lies. It is true that not all students feel the need or want to learn subjects in STEM but the skills they obtain from learning these subjects early can help advance them in their own career paths. Skills like problem solving, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, ability to adapt are just a few of the abilities learned from STEM education.
As the educational system tries to play catch up with the 21stcentury we must supplement their efforts with learning outside school hours. Workshops and events that focus on teaching STEM to students in innovative ways are a great way to help prepare the youth for tomorrow. Reaching as many students as we can must be the goal at hand.
