Emphasis On Math And Science On High School Students Needed

There have been many studies lately on the need to get young people engaged and interested in math and science.

   

The latest in Minnesota, and what has to be one of the longest press release subjects I have ever seen, EPAS DATA UNDERSCORES NEED FOR MORE MINNESOTA STUDENTS TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, show that:

   

The interest inventory portion of the EPAS released by the Department of Education showed that only 10.8 percent of eighth-graders and 20.9 percent of tenth-graders express interest in pursuing a future in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

   

“Minnesota’s future job growth will be in the scientific and technical occupations, so it’s essential that we encourage more students to consider pursuing careers in those fields,” Commissioner Seagren said. “The EPAS results underscore the need to continue our efforts to encourage and prepare more Minnesota students to participate in the STEM fields.”

   

Study results do show an increase in interest from the 8^th to the 10^th grades in math, science or technology fields. From 10.8% to 20.9%.

   

Although:

    

By comparison, more than 27,489 (51.2 percent), expressed interest in the social service and artistic fields.

   

And:

   

Additionally, new job growth in professional and high-tech industries will demand an extra 10,500 college graduates per year.

   

“It’s imperative for the state’s future success that we better prepare Minnesota students to compete in the global marketplace,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “That is why I have made it one of the top priorities of my Administration to encourage more Minnesota students to take science, technology, engineering and math classes.”

   

Besides continued mandating of math and science classes to graduate why not include a media campaign targeting you people? Talk to them they way they talk to each other. Make it cool to be techie. An example, show how the video games they are playing are made and that there is a career (and money) in math, science and technology.

   

If not, we will continue to talk about a workforce with small numbers and lower skills.