By: Bradie | November 6 2009 | Category: Issues in Education
 A large majority of Americans -- 76%-- believe that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is very important for the nation's competitiveness and its future economic prosperity. Another 21% believe it’s somewhat important.A solid 92% of Americans think that research is important to the U.S. economy, and 88% believe that scientific research is important for job creation and incomes. Those statistics were part of a "Your Congress Your Health" survey completed this past June for Research!America  by Charlton Research Company. Research!America is a nonprofit alliance for health-research support.It is into this seemingly aware public marketplace that “Making the Connection ,” a report by the Massachusetts Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission, has just been released.Can this commissioners’ report generate the energy to get the money, secure the cooperation from education stakeholders, and, most important, garner the public’s support needed to cut the State’s dropout rate of 10,000 students per year in half in the next five years? People attending the Commission’s public meetings over the past year continually expressed their doubts that the necessary funding for an effort of this size would be available. Reports similar to “Making the Connection,” with its focus on cutting dramatically the number of student dropouts, are, in one model form or another, being prepared now in nearly every state in the country. Will this focus on student dropout rates lead to significantly stronger STEM education initiatives? Only time will tell. The Massachusetts report highlights the cost to society of dropouts. For instance, they make up the majority (70%) of jail and prison populations in the state. The U.S. Department of Justice statistics put the annual cost of maintaining one prisoner at about $35,000 per year. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that the average cost of maintaining a student in public school is about $9,600 per year. The report also makes the point that over a lifetime, the average high school dropout in Massachusetts will impose a net fiscal burden of over $118,000 in cash and other benefits -- such as food stamps, healthcare, and childcare subsidies -- on State and Federal taxpayers. The Alliance for Excellent Education has found that over the course of his or her lifetime, a high school dropout will earn, on average, about $260,000 less than a high school graduate. In comparison, the average high school graduate will contribute $319,000 more in paid taxes than he or she will receive from State and Federal governments in the form of subsidies. Questions for today: What can educators and public officials at the community level do to reinforce the public's strong belief in the importance of STEM education and research to gro wing America's competitiveness and eco nomy? What can teachers do to help students and parents understand the importance of STEM education and research to America's position in global competitiveness and the strength of its economy? Bradie Metheny |
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