When did STEM become such a popular buzzword in education?

[Anonymous]

An art history major from princeton has more good job options (fun+well paying) than an engineering major from penn state.

Um, doesn't that depend on your definition of "fun?" To some kids, an engineering job would be fun.

[Anonymous]

STEM is out. STEAM is in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the 1990s, the National Science Foundation coined the term. You can go visit them in Ballston to air your grievances, if you wish.

Until NSF moves to Alexandria. The people in Arlington did not receive a STEM education and did not understand the economics of letting a valuable entity like NSF be lured away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it became a buzzword when liberal arts majors, myself included, realized there are no jobs for us and the good jobs go to STEM fields. I've already told my kids they cannot major in a humanities. Take classes for fun if they want but career focus should be on stem or business.

What a sad, sad state of affairs. This certainly demonstrates a complete failure to appreciate the genesis of STEM and pretty much guarantees that humanity is looking forward to a very shallow existence. It also completely fails to appreciate the fact that when asked, senior executives prefer liberal arts over business majors. The former can think and communicate clearly. The latter, not so much.

Also nice to know that there are parents who mandate their children's futures. That's pretty sad too.

Look if you want your children to live in your basement until you die, so be it. I prefer to have children who can obtain jobs and be independent of me. The humanities rarely generate the careers equal to those offered to STEM grads.

[Anonymous]

Lobbyists. I used to work on the Hill and I can't tell you the number of times that lobbyists from BSA, Google, Microsoft, ESA, you name it, would come into our office and pitch us on STEM education. Threatening more H1-Bs of course. Good times!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it became a buzzword when liberal arts majors, myself included, realized there are no jobs for us and the good jobs go to STEM fields. I've already told my kids they cannot major in a humanities. Take classes for fun if they want but career focus should be on stem or business.

What a sad, sad state of affairs. This certainly demonstrates a complete failure to appreciate the genesis of STEM and pretty much guarantees that humanity is looking forward to a very shallow existence. It also completely fails to appreciate the fact that when asked, senior executives prefer liberal arts over business majors. The former can think and communicate clearly. The latter, not so much.

Also nice to know that there are parents who mandate their children's futures. That's pretty sad too.

Look if you want your children to live in your basement until you die, so be it. I prefer to have children who can obtain jobs and be independent of me. The humanities rarely generate the careers equal to those offered to STEM grads.

My humanities children are gainfully employed and live 500 and 1600 miles away from home, respectively. They obtained jobs and are independent of me.

It is always the parents of young ones who know so much, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

An art history major from princeton has more good job options (fun+well paying) than an engineering major from penn state.

Um, doesn't that depend on your definition of "fun?" To some kids, an engineering job would be fun.

I doubt they have more well paying options in art history.
I had many options as an engineering major from Penn State. That's a degree that goes far and has many applications from a well-recognized, good state school.
But people on DCUM seem to prize Ivies above all others, despite the complete opposite correlation with good paying jobs in the real world. At least that's how I've seen it play out in my career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it became a buzzword when liberal arts majors, myself included, realized there are no jobs for us and the good jobs go to STEM fields. I've already told my kids they cannot major in a humanities. Take classes for fun if they want but career focus should be on stem or business.

What a sad, sad state of affairs. This certainly demonstrates a complete failure to appreciate the genesis of STEM and pretty much guarantees that humanity is looking forward to a very shallow existence. It also completely fails to appreciate the fact that when asked, senior executives prefer liberal arts over business majors. The former can think and communicate clearly. The latter, not so much.

Also nice to know that there are parents who mandate their children's futures. That's pretty sad too.

Look if you want your children to live in your basement until you die, so be it. I prefer to have children who can obtain jobs and be independent of me. The humanities rarely generate the careers equal to those offered to STEM grads.

My humanities children are gainfully employed and live 500 and 1600 miles away from home, respectively. They obtained jobs and are independent of me.

It is always the parents of young ones who know so much, lol.

NP.
But are there job options limited? Do they HAVE to love that far away?
Those that I know with humanities degrees don't have many options. Jobs are few and far between and don't pay well. My own parents steered me towards STEM.
Perhaps your kids are the exceptions. I don't know what my own kids will end up doing but I can see why parents steer kids toward STEM degrees.

[Anonymous]

I would be absolutely MISERABLE in a STEM field. Thank the Lord my parents had common sense and didn't push me into something that I don't have a knack for and would dread going to work every day if that was what I had to do for a living. DH LOVES math, is excellent at it, and even he struggled with some of the requisite math courses to get his engineering degree. You really think a kid who has no interest in the subject, nor a natural knack for it, is going to even get through a decent say, engineering program at a respectable university?

Not to mention, STEM does not automatically =/= high paying or recession proof. Biology, chemistry, earth science, etc.c- all STEM fields, all degrees with which you're going to have a dang hard time finding a job with just the BA/BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be absolutely MISERABLE in a STEM field. Thank the Lord my parents had common sense and didn't push me into something that I don't have a knack for and would dread going to work every day if that was what I had to do for a living. DH LOVES math, is excellent at it, and even he struggled with some of the requisite math courses to get his engineering degree. You really think a kid who has no interest in the subject, nor a natural knack for it, is going to even get through a decent say, engineering program at a respectable university?

Not to mention, STEM does not automatically =/= high paying or recession proof. Biology, chemistry, earth science, etc.c- all STEM fields, all degrees with which you're going to have a dang hard time finding a job with just the BA/BS.

This is a very good point. I am an academic adviser (humanities degree holder, BTW) at a very respectable local college, and get TONS of kids who are at risk for academic probation, academic withdrawal, or other college-sanctioned consequences due to poor academic performance because mommy and daddy (or sometimes the student himself) insisted they major in something "that will actually get a job" despite such subjects being vastly different from the student's interests and strengths. It's just a really good way to increase the kid's chances of having major academic problems, or end up in a career they do not enjoy. Why would a parent want that for their kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only wish there was a Humanities magnet high school in the area, so that TJ wasn't the only game in town for kids with exceptional ability. Some kids are geared toward literature, writing, history, and the social sciences and there should be a school where they are made to feel like "rock stars" too. The Maggie Walker Governor's School in Richmond is one example. Those kids are incredible.

I would love this, too. My daughter is very talented in Language Arts and wants to be a writer someday. Unfortunately, her abilities aren't applauded because she's not interested in STEM.

I'm the PP, and the same situation applies to my son. Excellent writer and extremely accomplished in history, debate, etc. But apparently not what colleges are "looking for." Very sad, as these are the people who have a huge knowledge base, know cultural references, and can WRITE about any topic you give them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be absolutely MISERABLE in a STEM field. Thank the Lord my parents had common sense and didn't push me into something that I don't have a knack for and would dread going to work every day if that was what I had to do for a living. DH LOVES math, is excellent at it, and even he struggled with some of the requisite math courses to get his engineering degree. You really think a kid who has no interest in the subject, nor a natural knack for it, is going to even get through a decent say, engineering program at a respectable university?

Not to mention, STEM does not automatically =/= high paying or recession proof. Biology, chemistry, earth science, etc.c- all STEM fields, all degrees with which you're going to have a dang hard time finding a job with just the BA/BS.

Op here - please stop saying STEM!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 46. I think we called that going to school.

+1

[Anonymous]

Wow this is about the stupidest, crankiest thread I have ever read on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow this is about the stupidest, crankiest thread I have ever read on DCUM.

Hie thee to the Real Estate forum:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/542423.page