Argus-Courier Editorial: The more STEM classes, the better

From outside, you can hear the giggles erupt from La Tercera Elementary School’s multi-purpose room. Inside, a scientist parading around as a clown has captivated a room full of 6 and 7 year olds with nothing more than a balloon and a bit of knowledge. He then shows the students how, with a little friction from rubbing the balloon on his head, he can build static electricity to make the balloon stick - even to Superintendent Jason Yamashiro’s face.

This is what STEM education looks like in action. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and it is one of the most critical programs to come to California classrooms in decades.

For years, both California and the United States have lagged when it comes to math and science scores. While American students continue to perform at the same level, most other developed countries are gaining in test scores, and threatening to leave the U.S. behind. In 2009, 18 education systems in other countries performed better on Program for International Student Assessment tests than the U.S., but in 2012 that number jumped to 22. The U.S. was rated “below average” in math when compared to other developed nations in 2012, and overall, America was slotted right between Lithuania and Slovak Republic. Russia was two spots ahead.

Experts say it’s not a matter of money. “For example, the Slovak Republic, which spends around $53,000 per student, performs at the same level as the United States, which spends over $115,000 per student,” Harvard professor Jan Rivkin told NPR.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of interest and getting kids excited about the sciences. That’s where STEM comes in, and the program appears to be flourishing in Petaluma schools.

STEM makes learning fun and, especially for younger students, it taps into what they do best: play. They’re encouraged to tinker, disassemble and otherwise do whatever they think might lead them to the answer they seek. That combination of exploration and critical thinking allows kids to use their mind in new ways, while the physical aspect of building something helps their restless bodies get out from behind the desk.

La Tercera blazed the trail as the county’s first STEM elementary school. Petaluma High School has also stepped up its science offerings in the past two years, adding computer and engineering classes to give students a taste of a career in tech. STEM should be implemented at all Petaluma schools, especially at the junior high school level so there’s no gap between the elementary and high school levels.

By overcoming the long-held stigma that math and science are “boring” or “hard,” STEM classes draw students at all levels. Jennifer Eaton is in her second year of teaching Principles of Engineering at Petaluma High School, and recounts how she’s watched her class size grow through word of mouth in today’s front page article on STEM education.

“I had two Latina girls working on a Rube Goldberg project together this fall,” she says. “As they were working during tutorial and lunch periods, they invited their friends to come and see what they were doing. All of a sudden, I had six to 10 other students coming into my class to watch, help them and give them ideas. My hope is that all of these students start to think about the opportunities for engineering in their future.”

It’s a hope Petaluma’s business community shares. Back in the 1990s, Petaluma was “Telecom Valley,” one of the epicenters of the nation’s tech market. When the bubble burst, many of those companies disappeared, but their principals, the men and woman who launched those businesses, were hooked on Petaluma’s way of life. They didn’t want to leave, so they started new companies like Cyan, Enphase Energy and Calix, all thriving businesses that provide hundreds of jobs.

They want to hire local talent, but after searching the nation at college fairs and through head-hunters, they say they’re coming up dry.

“This has been a 20-year push for us to get local talent here in Petaluma,” said Rick Johnston, a co-founder of Cyan. He said they opened an office in San Francisco to try and tap into the tech market there, but ultimately found themselves looking outside of the country for engineers and other high-tech positions. While many college graduates are still struggling to find a job, those with advanced engineering degrees have their pick of places to work, with starting salaries that near six figures.

But currently, only a handful of students who walk into college with plans to major in the sciences, which many speculate is because they never developed a love of science in school. STEM is working to buck that tradition with engaging programs that show students that science and math can be just as playful and creative as art and music.

With budgets remaining tight and the region still fighting to recover from the recession, it’s heartening to see Petaluma schools preparing children for a future where they can thrive.