Maryland schools want to implement science, technology, engineering and math programs in elementary and middle schools so students can learn how the disciplines work together to solve problems.
One benefit will be getting more girls and minority students into math and science careers, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick said.
George Newberry, Baltimore County Public Schools? director of science for prekindergarten through grade 12, is helping to introduce STEM into the county?s elementary and middle schools.
How are girls and minorities discouraged from pursuing education and careers in math, science and engineering?
It?s an old mind-set … that these are just not jobs girls would be interested in. …
So we go out of our way to head in the opposite direction, to show them that there are female astronauts, female engineers, female scientists; or in the case of minorities, that there are black doctors, black astronauts, black scientists.
It goes a long way in helping to dispel those old beliefs.
Why is this problem so persistent?
One of the problems is that we?re not capturing [the natural inquisitiveness and excitement] in the early grades.
Kids may not know they have an aptitude or an interest in math or science.
We really need to make more of the approach we?re using, and take away the barriers that may have existed.
How does introducing STEM at an early age increase the likelihood of retaining girls and minorities in math and science?
By giving them the early exposure and the experience in math and science, we show them how it applies to their lives.
And we give them not only exposure to the field, but to the people in the field.
It shows them that it doesn?t matter if you?re male or female, what your ethnic group is or what your race is ? there?s an opportunity for you.
