[Scotsman]

I appologize in advance, but I have gotten to the point I have to say something.

I keep hearing news media and academic administrators bemoaning declining science and engineering program enrollments. Pointing fingers at offshoring and poor job prospects as the reason, etc.

EXCUSE ME

This may have something to do with those just looking for a paycheck, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that went into technology as a result of the influences of my childhood.

I may date myself here, but common. We were landing men on THE MOON. How cool is that?!?! And just to reinforce that, the original 69 Star Trek episodes were on TV. Talk about a graphic demonstration of science and engineering. Between Scotty and Spock there wasn't any problem that couldn't be solved.

As a result of these and other pro technology influences of my childhood, I didn't even give a thought to job prospects by the time I got to college. I KNEW I wanted to be an engineer and devil take the hindmost.

So bottom line, if we want kids to go into science and engineering, WE NEED TO INSPIRE THEM. Show kids in terms they understand how science and engineering are the COOL thing to do. Not feed them a bunch of dry information.

[Bri]

Havin just got off an Indian support line for Microsoft.. Getting a 45 digit code in quasi English..
“ok Missy, now 8 ..dats the big 8 not the lil 8”

As to TV, the kids do get the latest on Paris Hilton and 50 Cents
from the “news” and MTV with an iPod and text’n off a cell phone.

Ever talk to a "socially aware" California teacher?
Most are more in tune with issues and the TV ads from
their union than science. Of course all that leads up to
watching the last of "Made in the USA" get outsourced.
Perhaps the do-gooders are right and western countries can
exist as service states, then all the education system has
to do is to get kids ready to be spanish speaking coffee
makers at Starbucks (baristas) and greeters at Wal-Mart.

So add to your bottom line about getting kids to go into science and engineering.. getting the educators away from equalizing schools to enforced mediocrity and preaching dumping our technical expertise
off to Asia.

My Rant of the day…
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