The unfortunate phenomenon of elementary-aged girls becoming interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) subjects, going off to college intending to major in and then pursue a career in one of those fields, and ultimately veering off somewhat sharply into less science-and-math rich majors and careers is common.

Fortunately, it has not gone unnoticed by the chicks who have gone on to work in their dream STEM fields, and several entities have started working to foster girls’ education and career paths in STEM subjects.

Michelle Obama, not a STEM girl herself (what with being a lawyer and all), is all for supporting girls in math and science and gave a little talk about it recently. My favorite bits from the transcript:

And if we’re going to out-innovate and out-educate the rest of the world, then we have to open doors to everyone. We can’t afford to leave anyone out. We need all hands on deck. And that means clearing hurdles for women and girls as they navigate careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

And it starts with lighting the spark for science and math in elementary school and grade school. We talk about this all the time. I know for me, I’m a lawyer because I was bad at these subjects. (Laughter.) All lawyers in the room, you know it’s true. We can’t add and subtract, so we argue. (Laughter.)

And so encouraging girls early not to lose heart in those fields, and encouraging them through high school is important. But it also means making sure that these young women can keep pursuing their dreams in college and beyond.

Further Reading:

Why So Few Women In Science, Technology, Engineering and Math?
Dual Academic Careers
First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks to the Dept. of Education

Posted by Alexa Harrington

The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) has a report out that shows the colleges low-income students head for first tend to be for-profit schools. That particular population is underrepresented in four-year public and private colleges, and overrepresented in the for-profit schools. All of which is not new, but it does mean fairness in higher education has still not been achieved.

From the brief:

INITIAL COLLEGE ATTENDANCE OF LOW-INCOME YOUNG ADULTS

More than 2.3 million low-income young adults began postsecondary education in 2008. Where these students initially enroll is of greater consequence than it is to their economically better-off peers because the likelihood of completing college for students from low-income backgrounds depends strongly on where they start their studies. This brief examines the types of postsecondary institutions where low- income young adults begin. Focusing on the starting point in low-income students’ postsecondary experiences will lead to later investigations of other key factors that influence their persistence and completion prospects, as well as labor market outcomes.

In the context of national completion goals, inducing more low-income young adults to participate in postsecondary education is deeply important. Yet enrollment data over the past decade indicate that certain types of institutions have seen their ranks swell substantially. While all sectors of higher education—two-year1 and four-year, private and public—are expected to bestow benefits upon their graduates, the types of institutions where low-income young adults are increasingly likely to enroll provide the least clear or certain educational and economic advantages (Bound, Lovenheim, and Turner 2010; IHEP 2002).

With these trends in mind, our analysis addresses two key questions:

What types of postsecondary institutions are low-income young adults first attending?

To what extent have the initial enrollment patterns of low-income young adults, especially females and certain racial/ethnic minorities, shifted over time, and to which types of postsecondary institutions?

Posted by Alexa Harrington

According to the Associated Press, American public colleges and universities have managed to spend their way through the $10 billion-pile of government stimulus money. Insanely large tuition fees and class sizes along with decreased course offerings are still front and center on American campuses, but at least the stimulus money helped to prevent (or maybe only slow) the shutting down of degree programs and entire schools. Now that the money’s gone, I predict more and deeper tribulation.

Is it too obvious to suggest that keeping higher education a viable option for Americans should be among the highest priorities? An ever-expanding cohort of young, energetic, jobless and uneducated Americans sounds like the crappiest American Dream ever.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

(photo: ed andrieski)

The Memorial was opened Sunday, August 28th, the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Sometimes mankind doesn’t let me down.

Further Reading:

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
A Dream Fulfilled, Martin Luther King Memorial Opens

Posted by Alexa Harrington

If you’re a decent soul who sees your fellow humans as basically good until they prove themselves otherwise, then by all means, stick around. And watch this quick video from My Fellow American[link]; it illustrates the point that being a Muslim doesn’t make you an evil asshole, being an evil asshole makes you an evil asshole.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

Dear State and Federal Governments,

You don’t pay educators enough money. Perhaps a budget increase could class things up a bit in the U.S. Public School System. Get on that, please, for the love of all things wholesome and holy. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Alexa

P.S. Try not to be such tools.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

(meth pipe)

Michele Bachmann has officially announced her decision to run in the 2012 presidential campaign.

I’d rather have the Baton Rouge teen, Zack Kopplin, who called her out on her creationism/intelligent design education policies. He seems smarter and a lot more open to facts and logic. That’s him above, testifying to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act of 2008, which allows the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in Louisiana public schools.

Michele Bachmann’s education policies reflect her pro-creationism and intelligent design stance.

Words from Michele Bachmann:

“There is a controversy among scientists about whether evolution is a fact … hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel prizes, believe in intelligent design.”

Words from Zack Kopplin:

“For the next hand, I raise you 43 Nobel Laureate scientists. That’s right: 43 Nobel Laureate scientists have endorsed our effort to repeal Louisiana’s creationism law. … Congresswoman Bachmann, you claim that Nobel Laureates support creationism. Show me your hand. If you want to be taken seriously by voters while you run for President, back up your claims with facts. Can you match 43 Nobel Laureates, or do you fold?”

Further reading on Zack Kopplin and his mission to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act of 2008:

Bachmann Is In, Officially
17 Year Old to Michele Bachmann: Show Me Your Nobel Laureate Scientists
Is Michele Bachmann the New Sarah Palin?
Zack Kopplin’s Change.org Petition
Michele Bachmann’s Stance on Evolution Demolished by High School Student

Posted by Alexa Harrington

Not really. I adore math and all its perfect logic. I’ve ranted before about math and smart girls and the general idea that being capable of doing something well has nothing to do with gender, race, sex, or your ass’ ability to sprout wings.

Tara C. Smith at Aetiology has some words about this subject as it relates to her career. She’s a scientist and an assistant prof and she can manage to research epidemiology without her hotness getting in the way.

Previous Posts:

Smart Girls Are Hot
Why So Few Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math?
You Can Kiss my Math Because Smart Girls Are Hot
Dual Academic Careers
Left-Leaning Professor Types
The Hotness of Geek Barbie

Posted by Alexa Harrington

(geek barbie)

Posted by Alexa Harrington

School kids need broadband, too! There’s a nearly infinite universe of information available on the Internet, a bazillion football stadiums’ worth of hard copy knowledge that would never fit into a school library or classroom. Students and teachers should have access to all of that brain-building, thought-provoking information. But how to give all schools decent broadband connections?

The U.S. Department of Education is on it. You can check out the interactive map showing the current status of broadband availability for U.S. schools, or you can read the hows and whys. Or both, if you’re really good.

With broadband, students and teachers can expand instruction beyond the confines of the physical classroom and traditional school day. Broadband can also provide more customized learning opportunities for students to access high-quality, low-cost and personally relevant educational material. Broadband can improve the flow of educational information, allowing teachers, parents and organizations to make better decisions tied to each student’s needs and abilities. Improved information flow can also make educational product and service markets more competitive by allowing school districts and other organizations to develop or purchase higher-quality educational products and services. More…

Posted by Alexa Harrington