On Parental Involvement, STEM Education And U.S. National Security

By Dr. Rupert Green

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Author sees danger unless there’s significant increase in U.S. STEM education

[Education: Commentary]

Since last year, Black and Latino children attained majority status in our nation’s public school system.

Notably, they are some of the poorest children. Notwithstanding, prevailing narrative advances the notion parental involvement is inextricably linked to school success. However, if we ignore the implications of the unfolding demographic shift and continue to advance such claim as the infallible truth,  this fallacy will disembowel America’s assets and behead its democratic ideals.

The reasons: Many Black and Latino children do not have, or are separated from their, parents.  Some children live in shelters. Some have parents who were abjectly, if not purposely, failed by the school system–making them unable to help their children with school work.

In addition, some children attend poor and chronically failing schools, having the least qualified educators.

Like many of you, I can attest to the successes of my own children or to my role modeling and continued effort to make a difference.  However, at days’ end, if educators and other stakeholders who are privy to the middle-class values (found responsible for school success) do not put it forward to help educate low socioeconomic and failing students, failure is assured.

Blacks and Latinos are the consistent rear guards of the achievement gap.  In addition, they acquire the fewest science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees.

In approximately 35 years, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians combined will constitute America’s majority population.  If the failing pathology of Blacks and Latinos continues, envision a future America with two-thirds of its majority population STEM-illiterate.  The present mediates the future; therefore, a current examination reveals the Department of Defense (DoD) is currently worried about its future workforce.  The concern is that in the next nine years, it will not find enough STEM graduates to replace its aging STEM workforce.

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A solution is to ramp up the supply of visa for highly qualified STEM individuals from other nations.  A potential problem is that some of these nations that produce many STEM-educated people are hostile to or at least want to challenge and overtake  the United States. And that’s why various branches of the U.S. government, including the DoD, are rightfully concerned.

Therefore STEM-education is actually an imperative. Consequently, we must properly educate our Black and Latino children to elevate their knowledge of STEM.  This is necessary to advance national security, global security, and our democratic ideals. 

 

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