This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Sound Solutions

The media has given much attention lately to the study of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in our K-12 schools and colleges. To a large part, this relates to a need in our economy for more workers in the STEM fields. In Connecticut, experts say there are 2.8 jobs for each STEM worker, in contrast to 2.2 workers for each non-STEM job. That's a compelling statistic.

No doubt, more STEM workers are essential to a healthy economy, and more of our young people could and should choose this path. More important, perhaps, is the role that STEM education plays in preparing our young people to be responsible citizens. STEM literacy is especially important because every one of us, not just engineers and scientists, needs to be well-educated in STEM to understand the technology related problems that face our society. We all need to be ready to vote in our local, state, and national elections for candidates that support technically sound solutions to the problems we face today and those that will surface tomorrow. Promoting better STEM education in our schools is something that we as community members should get behind. I encourage my friends and neighbors in Killingworth and Haddam to come to a community conversation about STEM in our schools on Saturday, April 26. It is a morning event at which they will have a chance to express their own ideas on how to solve this challenge in our schools, as well as hear their neighbors speak out about solving this problem. Readers can register using Facebook at HK Community Conversation or email hkcommunityconversations@yahoo.com.

Mary J. MeixellKillingworth