In regards to the "politically charged" article reviewing the Sputnik challenge from 1957, we as a nation need something to cause our country to rise to the challenge of producing STEM literate students for the next generation.
I disagree and agree with Friedman's article all in the same breath. As a student who was intrinsically motivated and desired to know the "why" in things, it is hard for me to believe that not enough students in this day and age are. Why is this? I believe it comes on a couple of levels. I believe that the breakdown of the family unit has ultimately affected our ability as a nation to be committed to finishing. With the divorce rate increasing, the inability to commit as a husband, wife, and family unit with children, and everyone's busyness has truly affected our ability at the home level to mentor and teach true values to children. If the home does not echo and enforce what is going on at school, there is a disconnect and usually the easiest avenue will persist.
Friedman states "How do I improve myself?" when discussing how Taiwan has self produced a self sufficient nation (Friedman, 2010). While this has some truth in the statement and would probably help our nation, I also believe that this is an all about me approach.
I truly believe if we can get back to the basics on the family unit, we would ultimately produce students who possess a better self worth and moral character. With this we would have better learners and the ability to produce students to want to study these so to speak "hard disciplines".
Resources:
Friedman, T. L. (2010, January 17). What’s our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)], p. WK.8.
