I really enjoyed reading this article because it made me think where we are as a country. Our focus is not on ourselves and how we can better improve our facilities and policies but spending money on helping others. I think the quote that resonated with me the most was that we need to "dig inside ourselves and not for oil" (Friedman, 2010). The war has not brought any benefits for our own educational advancement and oil prices have not even dropped. I think Friedman was insightful by stating that when Sputnik occurred, it motivated our country and created a positive work ethic. Today, I think everyone is so tired and there is nothing that is motivating us. I feel that our country need to reflect and boost our own people.
In education, teachers need to give students the skills to improve themselves and this country. I feel that this is possible by changing the way we look at teaching. I think many science enthusiast have already started the change but we need to find a way to inspire the rest of the country to focus on STEM teaching. Most teachers in my school are not familiar with the term "STEM". I think the Department of Education should create a system where teachers must stay current with their information because there is such a necessary need to provide current methods for our students. There are good teachers in my school and yet they do not know about inquiry-based lessons or how to teach them. Our students are at a great disservice because they are not getting the support they need when they graduate college.
It seems that other countries are supported by their administration and know the importance of a quality education. I think for a long time, we have focused so much on standardized testing that we are no longer giving students the experiences and skills that they will need to live in this competitive world. Therefore, I think it is necessary to pass more initiatives to increase student awareness and interest in STEM careers and create positive experiences with learning about how their world functions.
Reference:
Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8
