Students Interest in STEM
Much effort is being exerted by government agencies and colleges and universities to prepare kids in K-12 for careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This effort is motivated by projected workforce needs in the states and nationally, by federal programs, by expectations that training in the STEM disciplines provides the most reliable path to an economically viable life, and by concerns that those who don't achieve a STEM-related career are likely to be left behind.
However, interest in STEM careers seems not to be shared by many Minnesota students. A report released yesterday by the Minnesota State Department of Education presented results from the ACT Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS), showing that only about 11% of eighth-graders and 21% of tenth-graders express interest in a STEM career.
For comparison, a story about the EPAS results in this morning's StarTribune says "About half of the eighth-graders and a third of the 10th-graders listed interests that researchers say point them in the direction of 'social service"'jobs, which could include jobs in the health care, education, community service and hospitality fields, among others. Nineteen percent of 10th-graders have interests pointing them toward 'artistic' jobs, and 26 percent of eighth-graders are aimed at 'enterprising' jobs, which could include such work as marketing and sales."
There will be much speculation about the reasons for these results. Certainly one factor is a lack of role models in STEM professions among many groups in our population. Another is likely to be that preparation for STEM - all those tough math and science courses - is hard.
In addition, however, there may be some important values being expressed here. Careers in social service and the arts, and even in private enterprise, can be every bit as valuable to society as those in STEM. Of course, the intellectual preparation and discipline for any of these careers - and for being an informed citizen - should involve a healthy dose of science and math. But we will not reach many of the students we should be reaching if we maintain too exclusive an emphasis on STEM.
Links:
Department of Education press release
StarTribune story