Friday, December 26, 2014

Why my goal as a parent is not to produce more minority engineers by Tony Green

I recently received a letter inviting my daughter to participate in Alameda County’s STEM program. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM programs, if you are not aware, are designed to identify minorities who show aptitude in the math and sciences and provide them the resources needed to transition to successful careers in these fields.  Traditionally, minorities have been under represented in these fields and if the United States is going to remain competitive globally it will need ALL segments of its populace to be proficient in the technical skills needed to stay at the forefront of technology.


I recalled my participation in the Philadelphia Regional Introduction to Minorities in Engineer (PRIME) program while I was in high school and, later, in the University of Delaware’s Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE) program.  The programs were designed to ensure prospective engineering students are provided resources to maximize their chances of success with success being defined as graduating from an undergraduate engineering program. 

I would be proud if my daughter chose to study engineering but only if she is interested. I recall during my time as an undergraduate I recalled many of my classmates who started off in engineering who did not enjoy their coursework and changed their majors to disciplines which interested them and lived happily ever after.

The part of me that used to work as an engineer for over 10 years has seen the lack of diversity in many engineering fields first hand. Particularly alarming are the scarcity of those of color and of women.

There is another part of me realizes the overall purpose of being a parent is to set your children up for success in things they are interested in and not what you are fascinated with since when I am long longer alive it will be their lives.

I am grateful her teachers believe she can study engineering or any hard science but if she is not interested in studying these subjects with the goal of making a living then what is the point? So I declined the gracious invitation from Alameda County. As much as I believe in the group’s mission and the benefits of the program.  Is this the right decision?

Image Courtesy of Minority Engineer Magazine @ www.eop.com