ELA v. STEM
As a teacher in a high school, it would be difficult to ignore the push for more STEM-related classes/prep for jobs. This movement started gathering its bearings even when I was graduating high school (circa 2011). As an English Language Arts teacher, it is easy to find myself in positions where I feel inclined to defend the necessity of English/humanities classes, be it to students or on social media. I went into this field; I should justify it, right?I have very many interesting students who enjoy asking me interesting questions. They usually seem rather fascinated by me because I am so young and possibly not that far from their age group (and I've recently just learned that they think it's weird/cool/unique that I'm a female video gamer, since they've never had a teacher like that). One student in particular asked me a generic question that has surprisingly stuck with me even weeks later. This particular student is one who enjoys the writings of Carl Sagan and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and frequently researches the latest on NASA, Space-X, Kepler systems and the like, occasionally sharing some of his trivia findings with me.The question in question (pun intended): "What did you want to be when you grow?"Innocent in nature. Usually when my students ask me questions, I attempt to give it some thought so that they have a sort of nugget of information they can take and analyze for themselves. My answer on this one was simple--Despite making the occasional declarations of being a veterinarian or marine biologist (usually something to do with animals), I had always wanted to be a writer and, throughout various stages of my life, a teacher. I didn't know I would be an English teacher though, with some retrospect I was an idiot as I recall discussing this matter in 12th grade AP English; I had explicitly stated I wanted to be a high school English teacher or college professor then. Strange with how life works.But then I surprised myself with an addendum I never had admitted or realized before. "Although, if I could do it all over again now, I would like to be a scientist or engineer of some sort."The student, as in the general fashion of most students, nodded and wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do with the information. Unsurprisingly, he mentioned some vague interest in becoming an astrophysicist but he also had a hobby of writing rap songs (not necessarily PERFORMING them, just rapping).
I've thought about the statement for several time. I think perhaps my inclination to admit as such stems from the push for STEM programs (again, pun intended). Just last semester, our faculty meeting featured a guest speaker that was a chief engineer for the local Nissan plant. His presentation reinforced the necessitated of STEM, citing that within 10 years, Smart cars will be permanent installation on our roads as well as various other advances in the households, evolving beyond the mere assistants like Google Home and Alexa.I do have a knack for technology. This is cemented to me even further when I work on the technical aspects of my websites/publishing biz, when I worked in the Electronics department during college and helped troubleshoot a number of customer-related problems, and even when I assist my own colleagues when we are newly introduced to programs and equipment that require our understanding and fluency. The speaker affirmed again and again how STEM is the future. I don't necessarily disagree. It's an important evolution of adapting culture and society. That's what happens when it's a race of sorts for Apple and Samsung to push their latest cellphone every year.So if I could do it all over again, maybe I would try my hand in that field. I don't have buyer's remorse with my college degree per se, but I think I would enjoy tapping into a subject where I'm not as familiar as I am with English, to become more well-rounded. I would still, more than likely, write my books, but maybe I would have a stronger basis for any of my sci fi ideas.Not to dog my own field, of course. ELA is vastly important too. The necessity of communication and connecting with humans via art and literature simply cannot be overstated. We are humans, and the ability to problem solve only works when you have the social skills necessary to detect the problems. Because reading is so, so important, and I could never stress that enough to my students.
I've thought about the statement for several time. I think perhaps my inclination to admit as such stems from the push for STEM programs (again, pun intended). Just last semester, our faculty meeting featured a guest speaker that was a chief engineer for the local Nissan plant. His presentation reinforced the necessitated of STEM, citing that within 10 years, Smart cars will be permanent installation on our roads as well as various other advances in the households, evolving beyond the mere assistants like Google Home and Alexa.I do have a knack for technology. This is cemented to me even further when I work on the technical aspects of my websites/publishing biz, when I worked in the Electronics department during college and helped troubleshoot a number of customer-related problems, and even when I assist my own colleagues when we are newly introduced to programs and equipment that require our understanding and fluency. The speaker affirmed again and again how STEM is the future. I don't necessarily disagree. It's an important evolution of adapting culture and society. That's what happens when it's a race of sorts for Apple and Samsung to push their latest cellphone every year.So if I could do it all over again, maybe I would try my hand in that field. I don't have buyer's remorse with my college degree per se, but I think I would enjoy tapping into a subject where I'm not as familiar as I am with English, to become more well-rounded. I would still, more than likely, write my books, but maybe I would have a stronger basis for any of my sci fi ideas.Not to dog my own field, of course. ELA is vastly important too. The necessity of communication and connecting with humans via art and literature simply cannot be overstated. We are humans, and the ability to problem solve only works when you have the social skills necessary to detect the problems. Because reading is so, so important, and I could never stress that enough to my students.
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