Follow the Leader

     I remember watching a documentary on the United States' race to the moon. For many it started with an evening in October when a strange object orbited Earth and was visible in the nighttime sky. Some people probably feared it but many were caught up in the awe of what man could do. Unfortunately, those dreams of what man could do have fallen to the way side. Dreams of reality TV have taken over dreams about inventions. Dreams of finding a cure for cancer have fallen aside to dreams of being music moguls. It is not that these dreams are bad, but limiting to what students have been exposed to.

    Last year, my mom called me and told me about a company in India which was creating its own university so that its graduates could go straight to work. I never could find the original news report but I did come across an article that spoke of India's dilemma. India sees the need to have properly trained workers for its workforce. India has been watching its graduates finish school yet require even more training before they can begin working (Hill, 2012).


     India saw a need and has constructed a plan to meet the need. It is said that India will soon be viewed as China in leading the world in technology and engineering (2012). In Friedman's article (2010), he argues that countries like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong are leading in STEM careers because their focus is on building up a nation and not on "the war against terror". Maybe our focus is in the wrong place. Maybe if we spent just a quarter of the energy and monies spent on war, and invested in education, maybe then things could change.


     We have to do something. I want to see America turn around so that we can be a leader in STEM, a leader in education. I would love to see America have that same spark in it eye like it did when Sputnik crossed the nighttime sky. As a teacher, I will do my part to spark interest in STEM. How bout you? 




References:


Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8. 


Hill, D. (2012). India plans to create 12 times the number of colleges as the U.S. by 2020.  Retrieved from: http://singularityhub.com/2012/03/13/india-plans-to-create-12-times-the-number-of-colleges-as-the-u-s-by-2020/