This photo released April 7, 2011 by the Boy Scouts of America shows a new Robotics merit badge, which depicts NASA’s Mars rover. The badge will be unveiled next week as part of its efforts to emphasize science, technology, engineering and math. (AP Photo/Boy Scouts of America) NO SALES
The Boy Scouts of America, which offers more than 120 badges ranging from archery to wilderness survival, next week will unveil a robotics merit badge meant to promote science, technology, engineering and math, fields collectively known as STEM. In doing so, the 101-year-old Texas-based organization is trying to remain relevant and better reflect boys' interests, said Matt Myers, who oversees the Boy Scouts' STEM initiative.
My mother was one of the founding den mothers of Troop 685 (Cub Scout troop "back in the day") at Galilee Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. I was on most nights, the most hyperactive, precocious and undisciplined child.
What I remember that kept my attention for hours was when she and Pop bought me an Erector set. I promptly built a simple robot that marched out into the living room and frightened my mother! (I said precocious, didn't I?)
The periodical "Black Issues in Higher Education" is now "Diverse Issues in Higher Education." Their May 24, 1990 issue had an article by Ester Pearson of S.T.E.P.S. (Science, Technology, and Engineering Pre-college Studies) titled: "Strategies for Increasing Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Mathematics and Science." In the forth paragraph, she states: "One intervention point that has proven to be most beneficial is at grades 6 - 8. Students attending the 6th to 8th grades are at the midpoint in the educational system." The next paragraph continues: "This is a period when students are developing very strong attitudes about school, careers and life in general. It is a period of impressionability and self-searching, a time when students must be introduced to possible paths and choices for their lives." She goes on to say it is an opportune time to excite kids about mathematics, science and technical careers.
My opinion: we have ceded much to television "raising" our kids in video musicl/so-called "reality TV" norms versus having stable family environments that set boundaries that kids have no maturity to do themselves. There are little to no consequences for behaviors deviant to the academic expected norm; they are apt "users/consumers" of science & technology, and more enamored with sports and music icons than to develop themselves as "producers" of scientific & technological advances. The current crop at midlife -- 30 years from now -- will have less than optimum employment opportunities available to them if this is not changed.
The baptist church I mentioned above also did something they called "Super Saturday," where a career day with engineers, engineering & science majors (I presented at one of these) talked about options beyond their current circumstances and environments. It's a way to give back. Coupled with the STEM robotics initiative with the Boy Scouts, both could be 21st Century paths to reach underrepresented groups where they are, and not report year-after-year where they are not. Progress should be made, and everyone should "row in the boat."
What was in the early eighties slowly become the reality we all face now...breaking teens mentally free from "the boob tube," that some math and science problems take more than one or two steps to solve (and, that's actually OK); accepting the actual reality they CANNOT multitask between their text messages, their Facebook updates and what is actually being said in a classroom.
Rant over: I did teach high school math and physics before New York, after all!
Education should be driven by industry's need for new workers as older workers go into other areas -- like, management -- or leave entirely. This will keep technology new, and any country's competitive earnings per worker strong well into retirement.
That (I believe) is a road to prosperity we can all agree with.
Link: Beyond camping, canoeing, Boy Scouts add robotics
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