Before commenting I want to emphasise that Ethics might be the leaven in the STEM lump. On observation we don't seem to have a world in 2018 whereby humans have learned too much about preserving the planet Earth and ceasing to eradicate disgustingly large numbers of each other with the most hideous weapons. Enough of that, but as school Principals I urge you to consider Ethics as part of your inspiration to your students. Again I am probably teaching you how to suck eggs. Apologies if this is the case.
I am all for STEM and the rigour that is its basis. Unfortunately one hears too little of the innovative teachers of Science who electrify their students with the wonder of it all. Science just seems too hard for many students and they avoid it like the plague as soon as they have the choice. This is a challenge for Principals as the educational leaders of their school communities. Inspire your teachers of Science to get into innovative mode.
The same can be said for Mathematics. Students again shy away from the harder maths courses and the shortage of teachers of Mathematics continues to plague education systems. It all starts at Primary (elementary) school level with generalist teachers who have learned to love maths and thus to have their students catch their enthusiasm. I suspect that at this level such teachers are fewer rather than the majority, still smarting from their lack of confidence in their maths prowess. I lay a lot of the blame at the feet of the maths experts who make input to school syllabus construction. I watched purer forms of mathematics tend to take over what had been a focus on numeracy in the early years of schooling. I saw my own children suffer because they were not required to learn their multiplication tables off by heart, and now I see the same in my grandchildren. I wasn't inspired about maths as a student of long ago, but gradually came to see the wonder of it all. Perhaps Principals need a video of Professor Brian Cox tailored for various levels of schooling and in which the revered professor demonstrates how vital maths is as a core study in our world and universe. At least let the motivation of a Brian Cox loose on the secondary (high) school students. Again Principals need to lead the charge in ensuring their school communities are in awe of the wonder of mathematics.
Technology and Engineering as such are relatively new in schools, but are areas in which students seem much less difficult to motivate. My 6 year old grand daughter is almost obsessive about robots and all things associated with them. We all know how expert all kids are on tablets, computers and mobile phones. Their curriculums are now into 'coding' such that a new literacy is alive. Its all good stuff and as Principals you probably have to spend time keeping check on what students do with mobile phones, tablets and computers in terms of what they might view that they shouldn't, and in terms of what they might post that they shouldn't. I suspect that schools are in a much better position than parents to monitor social media.
I conclude this post by reiterating my cry for Ethics as the leaven for STEM.
If there is anything you wish aired and discussed on this blog don't hesitate to let me know.
May the Force be with you!
GD
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