STEM Vs. The Liberal Arts

A recent article written by Fareed Zakaria of the Washington Post got me to thinking about the current love affair with the STEM initiative. For the uninitiated, STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There re those in certain circles that believe that in order for American students to catch up to their European peers and for the US economy to prosper in future decades, the educational coursework should focus on the STEM courses. Theatre Majors- forget about it. Anthropology enthusiasts, - you’re relegated to museums. What about those college students who graduate with degrees in “Liberal Studies?” We just might be treading on dangerous ground by embracing STEM to the exclusion of all other academics.

Back in 1987, University of Virginia English professor Dr. E.D. Hirsch, Jr. penned a book entitled “ Cultural Literacy.” In it he outlined a dictionary of over 5000 items that he believed that all students should know. These included knowledge of art, music, geography and political science as well as the natural sciences and mathematics. Hirsch and his colleagues went so far as to publish a series of books for each elementary grade level- What Every First Grader Should Know, etc. He went on to establish the Core Knowledge Foundation in in effort to create a national awareness for this broad based knowledge. Apparently this has either become passé or has fallen on deaf ears. In his article, Zakaria noted, “ Innovation is not simply a technical matter, but rather one of understanding how people and societies work, what they need and want.” Even Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States and a signer of the Declaration of Independence believed that a liberally educated population was important for the future success of the United States.

It’s time to put the breaks on STEM and revisit how we should continue to encourage critical thinking.

c.2015 J. Margolis

Should Teachers Have Guns in School?

The education committee of the Florida State legislature in Tallahassee approved a measure that5 would permit certain designated school officials to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. The committee vote was 10-1 and included bipartisan approval. The measure, which has been indorsed by the Florida Sheriff’s Association, would have the school superintendent designate someone to carry a gun. The bill, if enacted would require the designated person be a former military member or law enforcement official and have a state concealed weapons permit. The one lone dissenting committee member stated that he felt that a better course of action would be to increase the number of school resource officers in schools, especially in elementary schools.

It is certainly not illogical to think along these lines especially when one considers the events at Columbine High School in Colorado or the tragedy in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. But the greater issue is school security at what cost? Does having an armed teacher or other employee in school put students at risk? What message does it send to students who for many years believed that school was the one safe and nurturing place in a hostile and violent world?

This is not the first time that the Florida legislature has attempted to enact such legislation. It has been tried, unsuccessfully on two other occasions in past years.

Your comments on this issue are welcome.  For those of you residing or teaching in other states, please let us know if similar measures are on the docket in your state legislatures.

c.2015 J.P. Margolis

Technology and Children- What Age is the Right Age?

At what age should a child receive his or her first electronic device?

Did you buy an iPad for your five year old for Christmas and if so what is he (she doing with it. Since there has been a major paradigm shift in the use of technology both in school and at home, the questions are legitimate. The current generation of children has not known life without electronic devices. The paced of innovation and implementation of new inventions is progressing at warp speed.

A recent article in the Rand Review Magazine (January 2015) took a serious look at giving iPads to toddlers. In this rapidly changing technological generation, children need to be introduced to technology especially as they reach school age or they run the risk of falling behind their peers. Researchers   found that youngsters between the ages of 3 and 5 spend about four hours a day with technology. The researcher wrote” technology literacy plays an important role in a child’s ability to succeed in school and later life.”

The Rand Corporation in conjunction with a PNC "Grow Up Great" grant of $350 million came up with five timely questions that all parents should ask regarding their children’s exposure to technology.

1)   Can the device help improve academic skills in math, reading and science?

2)   Is the technology use balances with a child’s other activities?

3)   Does the child interact with others while using devices?

4)   Are the activities free of violent or adult themes and are they interactive?

5)   Are the children sedentary while using these devices?

Additionally, educators and government officials need to look at the cost factors, which can remove from the equation those students whose parents cannot afford to buy the latest technological gadgets.

It is time for parents and teachers to take a look at the goals of technology and it use academically and not as a   baby sitter.  

For more information about this topic please access www.rand.org/t/RR673z2

C.2015 J. Margolis