There has been much information published about STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and how the students in the U.S. are not prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st century. Consider this: Eighty percent of jobs created in the next decade will require math and science skills. However, today’s students show declining interest in these subjects, with eighty-four percent of middle school students saying they would rather clean their room, take out the garbage, go to the dentist and eat their vegetables than study science and math.
Many initiatives , from incorporating more science, math, technology and engineering in the K-12 public education system to the America Competes Act which aims to maintain and strengthen the United States' global economic competitiveness by: improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education have been undertaken.
Here in Winston-Salem, the city of arts and innovation, do we possibly also have a solution to the STEM deficiency by promoting the benefits of both an arts based and innovation economy? The following link demonstrates how the arts deserves a place right along side science, technology, engineering and math.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/11/arts-and-the-innovation-gap/