STEM Education Argument

1. Argue Against it

1.1. Problem solvers need people skills to see their creative ideas.

1.2. Innovation is not simply a technical matter but rather one of understanding how people and societies work, what they need and want.

1.2.1. What is your name? How do you think composition and diversity courses are relevant to today's workforce? Dr. She

1.3. Engineers need to be creative and brainstorm possible solutions before gathering materials and designing a model. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/08/10/why-more-stem-classes-wont-help-solve-the-serious-stem-achievement-gap/?utm_term=.45e1b58f4b57)

1.4. Technical skills are just one ingredient needed for innovation and economic success.

1.5. No matter how strong your math and science skills are, you still need to know how to learn, think and even write.

1.6. Andrew Benett, a management consultant, surveyed 100 business leaders and found that 84 of them said they would rather hire smart, passionate people, even if they didn’t have the exact skills their companies needed.

1.6.1. Innovation in business has always involved insights beyond technology.

1.6.2. What is your name? Where do you think our educational system is heading when liberal education is de-emphasized? Dr. She

1.7. Amina Kadry

1.8. I do not agree with STEM education. Although these subject are incredibly important they should not be the only thing that is taught and tested. It is very much so less important that students know who painted the Sistine chapel rather than know the quadratic equation. Of course, the main focus of schools should be things that will contribute to society like our armed forces or new broadcasting, but we also need trades like nursing or plumbers. This is why STEM education is not enough but also why college has become such an important part of the American education system. By allowing people to specialize we get a great range of different workers and different professions. Without every member of society being represented the society will always be lacking. Hannah Schmidt

1.8.1. Hi Hannah, there is also another controversy going on today about the standardized tests, especially the M-Step. Some argue that our schools have become more like test-preparation academics. Any thoughts on this? I believe there is one thing in common between standardized testing and pushing for STEM, which is having students to conform to a pre-determined standard! Dr. She

2. Argue For it