What is with the STEM obsession?

[Black Magisterialness]

Great post and perspective. We have to analyze the situation in relation and context to the changing political economy, which is increasing global and more like a network internally in America.

If the world becomes overpopulated with STEM majors, guarantee creativity and the artistic people will feast.

I always talk about balance, I think STEM is worth pursuing but not at the expense of abandoning what one's good at and following that passion primarily. Let's face it Blacks are much more artistic/creative/musical/rhythmic than any other race, and yet are getting shamed out of that left and right. You can encourage thriving STEM without abandoning your natural gifts. If I had a choice I'd much rather be John Legend and Janelle Monae (if I were a female) than any STEM major on this planet, no offense and this is coming from someone who is doing programming right now.

This shyt is almost happening right now with there being less of an impact of Blacks in the media and arts. Cats are seriously being shamed out of it/blackballed. You concede being good at it and you outright are giving it away. The first thing you hear when you see people criticizing a group of Black people for dancing/loving life is "well we have science/some intellectual industry anyway!" When in reality you know they'd want to trade places.



The bolded here is what I'm trying to say. Gifts should be nurtured. if children have that gift help them cultivate it. So what if it isn't STEM.

The bigger picture, especially with young black kids is we need to stop telling kids in the country that they need to be one thing. Everyone that i know that is 'HAPPY" and successful has many interests and many fields of expertise. STEM is fine, but you don't have to be a bio-med engineer and ONLY that.

There is nothing wrong with being a Bio-Med Engineer/Bass Player/Painter/Apps Developer. In fact, the more skills you have in ANY field help you look at EVERYTHING in new lights and you never know when those skills or knowledge bases may overlap.

Hell I got a BA in Journalism minor in Sociology, but I took up Italian and I always was into computers and shyt. And that's how I got my job as IT/Social Media...which then got me a promotion. Why? Because I didn't say its JOURNALISM OR NOTHING. Hell the door is STILL open for me to do that.

 

[Wild self]

It takes money to make money.

STEM jobs pay good money. You can do whatever you want with it after

If you don't love STEM, you gonna go postal. Besidrs, many stem majors are not even getting paid the salary of a damn garbage man. We better off making our own businesses intend of being damn near a rocket scientist to make 50k out of college.

 

[Wild self]

The thing I don't get about the anti-liberal arts crowd is I wonder how they can enjoy film, books, tv, etc. When a lot of that is done by people who were educated in so-called useless subjects. They want everyone to do STEM and read astrophysics books for entertainment?

They want everyone to be a damn astrophysicist and can't even match them the pay of a bus driver. That is the main injustice.

 

[iFightSeagullsForBread]

If you don't love STEM, you gonna go postal. Besidrs, many stem majors are not even getting paid the salary of a damn garbage man. We better off making our own businesses intend of being damn near a rocket scientist to make 50k out of college.

If I was really into the sciences or building of rockets, I'd be happy with making $50K. You want to have passionate people in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, physics etc. that would add to the infrastructure of a society if you want to be into for the paycheck, you go work for google or try to design the next his smartphone OS.

 

[Wild self]

If I was really into the sciences or building of rockets, I'd be happy with making $50K. You want to have passionate people in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics, physics etc. that would add to the infrastructure of a society if you want to be into for the paycheck, you go work for google or try to design the next his smartphone OS.

Yeah, but when people scream STEM and can't even get 6 figures from all that hard academic work, that ain't worth the struggle. I can't work on something that I hate for 40 years of my life and die. Humanity is more than that.

Better off building and selling goods from businesses, like I said

 

[Black Magisterialness]

Yeah, but when people scream STEM and can't even get 6 figures from all that hard academic work, that ain't worth the struggle. I can't work on something that I hate for 40 years of my life and die. Humanity is more than that.

Better off building and selling goods from businesses, like I said

People not understanding that time is an investment...especially stressed out time. Having 120k in student loan debt to have a 40k a year job isn't a good investment...your life wont end but its rough. Even beyond that, it hard to remain passionate about STEM jobs when most of your work is dependent on federal/state funding and grants. STEM fields may get jobs quick, but they can get wiped out just as fast if your state ain't doing well...(basically if you are anywhere besides California or Texas).

But still the majority of cats get into 6 figures within 3 or 4 years of working and making 80 or 90k as a 25-29 year old isn't bad at all.

 

[user1]

that too ealry IMO . People in 3rd grade don't even really know what they want to do.

kids need to explore their options first then make the leap of faith...

In 1st grade I knew I wanted to go to college and by 3rd grade I had picked out the school and mapped out the cost/years it would take. I think we should never underestimate the power of a child's mind and the ability of them to see their future. It's never too early. I think it should start from birth to let a child explore and by the time they hit preschool they will be showing you what they gravitate towards. I think we limit our children as it is because we don't think they are that smart.

 

[user1]

If the world becomes overpopulated with STEM majors, guarantee creativity and the artistic people will feast.

I always talk about balance, I think STEM is worth pursuing but not at the expense of abandoning what one's good at and following that passion primarily. Let's face it Blacks are much more artistic/creative/musical/rhythmic than any other race, and yet are getting shamed out of that left and right. You can encourage thriving STEM without abandoning your natural gifts. If I had a choice I'd much rather be John Legend and Janelle Monae (if I were a female) than any STEM major on this planet, no offense and this is coming from someone who is doing programming right now.

This shyt is almost happening right now with there being less of an impact of Blacks in the media and arts. Cats are seriously being shamed out of it/blackballed. You concede being good at it and you outright are giving it away. The first thing you hear when you see people criticizing a group of Black people for dancing/loving life is "well we have science/some intellectual industry anyway!" When in reality you know they'd want to trade places.



The bolded here is what I'm trying to say. Gifts should be nurtured. if children have that gift help them cultivate it. So what if it isn't STEM.

This. If we dominate culturally and arts why not just push to completely take it over. Create our own networks and embrace it. We shouldn't be shamed into not following what we know many of us are good at. We leaving money on the table that has always been there. We should be trying to master that shyt on higher levels .

 

[user1]

the arts is the least prone to automation.

i feel for those in the hard sciences and math for what MIT and DARPA has coming their way.

 

[Mr.Big Meat McGee]

If the world becomes overpopulated with STEM majors, guarantee creativity and the artistic people will feast.

I always talk about balance, I think STEM is worth pursuing but not at the expense of abandoning what one's good at and following that passion primarily. Let's face it Blacks are much more artistic/creative/musical/rhythmic than any other race, and yet are getting shamed out of that left and right. You can encourage thriving STEM without abandoning your natural gifts. If I had a choice I'd much rather be John Legend and Janelle Monae (if I were a female) than any STEM major on this planet, no offense and this is coming from someone who is doing programming right now.

This shyt is almost happening right now with there being less of an impact of Blacks in the media and arts. Cats are seriously being shamed out of it/blackballed. You concede being good at it and you outright are giving it away. The first thing you hear when you see people criticizing a group of Black people for dancing/loving life is "well we have science/some intellectual industry anyway!" When in reality you know they'd want to trade places.



The bolded here is what I'm trying to say. Gifts should be nurtured. if children have that gift help them cultivate it. So what if it isn't STEM.

Finally I can eat... I was never a STEM type person. Always was into Animation , Drawing , Music , Designing , and Fashion.

 

[hatechall]

I read Astronomy/Astrophysics books even on my free time. I have been doing that every since I could first read,that's what started my interest in the cosmos.
Determining my college major was easy.

I didn't graduate from college, but I read math books in my free time - mostly theoretical stuff that doesn't have any practical applications.

I encourage blacks to study science and math because there's beauty in it, not because it might lead to a "good job."

Additionally, STEM is the backbone of every modern society.

Black countries and communities are poor, to a large extent, because they lack that critical mass of trained scientists and engineers. The Liberal Arts are valuable in their own right, but they're less vital for human survival and development.

I would encourage black kids to think, first and foremost. If you take 100 black kids and get them involved in thinking activities (like Chess, for example) 20 will naturally take up an interest in STEM. The rest will at least appreciate the type of thinking that's required in STEM.

 

[Poitier]

Additionally, STEM is the backbone of every modern society.

Pretty sure its banking and farming.

 

[hatechall]

Pretty sure its banking and farming.

You could say agriculture is the most fundamental economic activity but it's made more efficient by advances and science and tech. Same goes for banking.

 

[mrken12]

Is OP really asking why science, technology, engineering, and math are important in 2015?

He should know better. Or maybe he doesn't since he's nothing but a tryhard troll.