We may be living in the
Information Age, but not all human settlements have been swept over by the wave
of science and technology, yet. So why should every child, whether attending the most prestigious school in the country or a godforsaken one-room school in a village invisible to most maps with intangible prospects of a career in the sciences, learn science?
Teaching STEM subjects, when done
the right way, does not mean simply teaching the names of the planets, or the
elements in the periodic table. It is teaching logic, critical thinking and
problem solving. It is nurturing curiosity and the right dose of skepticism
while at the same time giving children the opportunity to be enthralled by and
understand the wonders the universe. I will go as far as saying that every
child has the right to marvel at the greatness of our cosmos. Science hates
apathy of the mind, stimulates independent thinking and hence aids in the
development of the full potential of the person.
This means that when all the
details learnt at school, memorised equations, atomic numbers and what not, are
forgotten, the science literacy that is left gives the knowledge and tools to
make smart informed decisions. This is especially
important when it comes to management of resources such as land, water, energy
and biodiversity. All of which when managed properly lead to a better quality
of life.
More than anything, science is a
mind frame and a critical way of thinking. These are gifts that you cannot
easily return back and can be used for free to fight propaganda and
brainwashing by manipulative authorities. If this isn’t empowerment I don’t
know what is.
What we should keep in mind is
that great responsibility comes with disseminating knowledge. If this powerful
way of thinking does not have a structure to support itself, it would be a
futile attempt at empowerment. It is like showing the children the candy they
cannot have, exhibiting what they are missing out on, rather than giving them a
choice to take ownership of their lives. In such cases wouldn’t ignorance be bliss?
