Teaching Math to Kids: We Need New Media!
The United States is facing a very formidable challenge in the years ahead. The problem, how do you get more American kids interested in math, engineering, technology, and science? The reason this is a problem is because many of the baby boomers are starting to retire, and young people are just not interested in pursuing careers in these fields. Could math comics be part of the solution?It’s a fact that technology and science are the bedrock of the global economy in which we now find ourselves in. Business and labor statistics tell us that employment in these areas alone will increase about 70% faster than the rates of other areas. With this sudden jump, it’s very tragic that American kids are not showing the interest or skills required to fill these types of jobs.Middle school in particular needs our urgent attention. As our kids turn to teenagers, it is just “not cool” to be good in math or science. Peer pressure is huge at this age, and we need to support and encourage our kids in the areas of the maths and sciences before it gets to them. Unless we take the necessary steps now, we as a nation will pay the price in the years to come.Math needs to be an interest of both boys and girls. Young women now outnumber men on our college campuses, but in far too many engineering disciplines women make up less than 20% of students. Professions in the math and sciences need to be more welcoming to women, so they will see a future for the math they are learning in their early years.
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