If In-Person and STEM Are So Important Why Are Schools Cutting These Beloved Programs? by Sandy Gady
“This is a difficult post to write.
All my life I was taught if you worked hard, found your passion and gave it your heart and soul, others will recognize its specialness.
Last Thursday night I was told my MS/STEM Design and Engineering and introduction to Engineering program was gone.
Our district office projected our numbers to be significantly higher than they actually were. As teachers in the trenches, we told them no way were their numbers anywhere close. If anything they would be lower. How do you not take into account we spent 17 months in remote/hybrid learning? How do you not consider the rent moratorium? You made a mistake and my students have to pay the price.
Throughout the day Friday, we finished the unit we were on and the last 10 minutes of each period, I delivered the news their favorite class was gone.
The gasp was audible. Tears came immediately to all of us. We wanted to reach out and hug the pain away, but couldn’t because my kids always played by the rules in my room.
You see, these were students who love a challenge and desperately wanted to cut and build with wood, nails and screws. Design and use 3D printers. Design, create and laser engrave special projects for those that mattered to them. Everything from engraving pencils to creating challenge coins and making projects seen on Etsy and Facebook with Glowforge.
They wanted to design and program “Spike” the newest LEGO building kit and use drones to compete in the Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline “Roads on Icy Worlds” national competition.
Future City, an international competition, where three times we won the Washington Regional Competition and represented our region at nationals in Washington DC, is gone. I have no doubt, with the encouragement and input from other teachers, we once again had students destined to represent the region at nationals.
These kids have been excited at the prospect of being a part of Pacific’s 15 year legacy. Many are siblings of previous competition participants. This has been their goal, their dream, as they watched the success of their brothers and sisters.
Many sat stunned, broken hearted with tears streaming down their faces.
This year all of our middle schools were going to participate in the EPIC Challenge, where students were to design their own motorized planes, tethered to a pole to perform a task. This year’s competition was “Touch and Go,” where their plane was to be guided up and down touching on targets for points.
This program and project was designed by Lane Slagle for all students to be successful.
All gone with a whisper of “hopefully your program will return next year.” It should never have been taken away this year. There were other viable options.
Throughout the years I have taught my kids to advocate for what is important to them and has made a difference in their lives. DE and Intro students are family. We are a unique community. We have the commonality of being challenged and coming out the other side as winners. We make a difference.
Now is the time for voices to be heard. Speak up. Share your story with the school board members, Dr. Enfield, administration and anybody that will listen. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. It takes a village.”
About the Author:
This is my 29th year of teaching middle school and am an NBCT EA Science. 15 years ago I was tasked with developing a CTE MS/STEM program that would allow students to be challenged without them feeling defeated. Over the years, my Design and Engineering program has grown from a predominantly white male course, to close to 50/50 males and females, as well as students with rich, diverse cultures and backgrounds. Approximately 65% of my students are minorities and students of color.
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