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Misconceptions Of The Current US Education System

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Former secretary of education, Williams J. Bennett, said, “If the United States wishes to remain the most completist ever and innovative county in the constellation of industrial nations--this cannot stand.” (#8-153) Bennett was talking about the current U.S. education system and how it treats STEM education. STEM is science, technology, engineering, and maths. There’s a high demand for STEM jobs, and the demand isn’t going away. “According to Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce, Kansas and Missouri will need 185,000 additional people completing post secondary degrees by 2018” (#1-NP). Many of those jobs that will be needed are STEM related. However, there is a major problem with the STEM program that cause a lack of interest …show more content…

These misconceptions seem small in a high school classroom, but they majorly impact the types of jobs those individuals get. In 2013, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and development measured students in science and math (#8-153). The U.S was below average. In that same year, 33% of Americans rejected the theory of evolution. “The U.S ranked last of 19 nations in math, reading and writing” (#7-18). STEM can help citizens compete for better jobs in the global economy (#6-NP). The U.S is only ahead of 4 countries in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (#2-NP). World leaders want their citizens to compete for better jobs in the global economy. It helps the country prosper. Young girls are discouraged from STEM jobs and taking interest in STEM classes. “Even if a girl is equally qualified as her male companion, she is still 50%-70% less likely to complete an education in STEM due to social pressures” (#4-NP). Noticeable differences in math and science started around the age fifteen— if not even earlier in a girl’s educational career. STEM education must be reformed in order to remain economically competitive with other …show more content…

Teachers who are uninterested in the subject they teach will also drive away people with potential. If a teacher is not enthusiastic, then the student will not feel enthusiastic for that subject. Students in high school experience this effect currently; students have potential, but hard classes weed those people out. While STEM is a rigidous program, the most successful people have been made. Many of the famous minds, like Albert Einstein, were horrible at STEM classes in school. Many classes in STEM are designed to weed-out those students who aren’t seen as “fit” for a STEM career. Math is generally the class that drives students away. However, math is the basis for all the other STEM disciplines; it’s important to understand. Math has to be made exciting on its own in order to increase interest in it

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“Geoffrey Garin, president of Hart Research Associates, suggest that studying liberal arts is actually best form of career education (Ungar 657).” He has clearly done research to know that liberal arts are proven to prepare students for numerous careers that require a form of the arts, while the STEM majors seem to

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1040 Words | 5 Pages

The value of the STEM system (science, technology, engineering, and math) is steering the education world in a new and positive direction, although some may believe otherwise. In Lloyd Bentsen’s article, “the United States educational system will continue to fail our children,” he talks about how he disagrees with Zakaria, another writer stating his views on the STEM system. Bentsen believes the STEM system will benefit America. In Scott Gerber’s article, “How Liberal Arts Colleges Are Failing America,” he talks about how people can correlate their majors into entrepreneurship. Lastly, in Fareed Zakaria’s article, “Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous,” he shares his belief that our obsession with STEM is just a way to overlook

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A survey conducted by “Andrew Bennett, a management consultant” showed that 84 out of 100 business leaders “would rather hire smart, passionate people, even if they didn’t have the exact skills their companies needed.” This survey confirms that its better for students to be well rounded in their education rather than have an education based entirely on STEM. Another study conducted by Oxford scholars found that for workers to win the competition against computers for their jobs, “they will have to acquire creative and social skills.” A STEM education won’t teach creativity and social skills; it will stifle them. Overall Zakaria’s abundance of facts were key in persuading the

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751 Words | 4 Pages

He also provided the reader with opinions from other well-known liable people. Zakaria claimed that having a broad general education helps foster critical thinking and creativity. The author insisted that America will not show progress by the 21st century because they are making cheap computer chips instead of focusing on how new technology interact with people. The author supported his claim by stating that the American economy has changed historically which resulted in success shifting from one generation to the next. Zakaria believes that educational systems focusing on STEM courses are not reasonable because people don’t want to only learn one specific skill for

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805 Words | 4 Pages

But that growth is constrained in two ways. It is constrained by the amount of properly trained talent, which is needed to produce innovation. And it is constrained by this talent's willingness to take the entrepreneurial risks critical to commercializing innovation" and then goes on saying that "it is hard to believe humanities degree programs are the best way to train America's most talented students" (469-471). The reality is, humanities sheds a light on the huge influence science has had, and does have on shaping society and the quality of people's lives, both negatively and positively (Dalbert, 2011). To excel in the STEM world, we must understand the impact that STEM and medicine has had on society and understand the future scientific needs.

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After reading your article “Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous” I have formed some opinions regarding the topic that was mentioned in the article. This article is relatable to me as a student who has been educated in America’s educational system. Even though students who want to pursue a degree often complain about taking prerequisites, this article demonstrates that those prerequisites are a reason as to why students can be well rounded. I have been one of those students who often complain about the amount of different subject we must take, but I am slowly learning to appreciate it. It is in a way a calming thing to think about that even though I am majoring in one subject, that is not the sole thing I can offer when

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907 Words | 4 Pages

Because of this I stopped liking science and turned to other activities not related to STEM. When reading Suri’s article, he explains how STEM is unwelcoming to the L.G.B.T. community, which will make them not want to join STEM, and that is what happened to me, and maybe it has happened to other people as

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997 Words | 4 Pages

According to a study published in the Career Development Quarterly, “Findings suggest that students’ confidence level in their academic and mathematics abilities makes a significant difference in their initial STEM major choice.” Although this study may suggest confidence level is the most influential aspect in choosing a major, the existence of positive role models is much more important. Role models can empower students to be confident in their abilities in the first place, which directly empowers them to choose a major they feel confident in

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Emely Tobar Professor Mendoza GWS 300 OL December 6, 2014 The Pursuit for Higher Learning STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These are very significant careers in the work force; but there is one problem, very little women take part in these careers, let alone Latina women. This is why five Latina women went on a mission to inspire and empower Latinas to pursue, thrive, and advance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. MIT Latina alumnae who had one goal for young women founded this organization; specifically for Latina women to break out of the barrier for careers that society expects them to pursue.

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While the U.S. government initiatives to expand student interest and participation in STEM may increase student achievement on paper, what the U.S. government forgets is that students need a fully-rounded education. Therefore, student potential rises above any number on a chart, so the value of the initiatives does not match that of a STEAM. Education in the United States of America, compared to those of Asian countries (like China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore), constantly ranks low, but focusing more on STEM will only help the numbers (not the country). A well-rounded education that includes everything the STEM pathway offers and more. According to Deborah Fitzgerald, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, their students

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289 Words | 2 Pages

In the article, “Anti-Intellectualism and the “Dumbing Down” of America” Ray Williams discusses the increasing trend of anti-intellectualism in American culture. There is an anti-intellectualism that exists in American culture that is the result of the unpopularity of being smart in High School, the lack of the importance of teachers in the U.S. compared to Japan and the effect of reality TV and pop culture. Williams indicates that one of the reasons that anti-intellectualism exists is that education in the United States is not as strong as it once was. Williams says, “After leading the world for decades in 24-34 year olds with university degrees, the U.S. is now in 12th place. The World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. at 52nd among 139 nations

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On the contrary, Lloyd M. Bentsen IV, a researcher with National Center for Policy Analysis, states that STEM is struggling with the major problem of student engagement. Him, as well as other critics, believe that there

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Specifically, ENG205 is an interdisciplinary course, which means students look at rhetoric through scientific, philosophical, visual, and many other lenses. If we consider that the U.S. Department of Education states that during the 2011-2012 school year 33% of undergraduate students changed their major at least once, and 9% changed it two or more times and that according to Statistics Canada only 30% of women and 60% of men who graduated with a degree in STEM ended up working in their field in 2016, we can see that there is a problem with how students choose their

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1552 Words | 7 Pages

STEM Labor and Supply Controversies Throughout the years, America experienced a developing controversy over whether or not science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education has had a positive impact on the growing economy. The K-12 education systems across the nation have actively enforced STEM in order to attract students into these fields of study. The 2005 reports, Rising Above The Gathering Storm, Tapping America’s Potential, and Innovative America, all address the issues concerning teacher quality, an adequate amount of workers, international test rankings, H1-B visa permits, and achievement gaps, which could all be factors in hurting the economy. The United States is making an effort to improve STEM education in order

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Indeed, at the 26 Girls’ Day School Trust schools and academies, girls are more than twice more likely to opt for science or engineering degrees at university level than girls nationally.”

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