BLOG

See the latest on activities, news, and updates from STEMS on the VINES right here on our blog.

Is there Inequality in Education?

I have many ambitious students. One student wants to be a chemist, another wants to be a pilot, and two others want to be pediatricians. These students have never seen a microscope, a telescope, or a chemistry lab. When I attended school, these were commonplace. What we are dealing with is a basic inequality in education.

School district funding is still based on property taxes, which perpetuates inequality. The best academic resources go to the affluent, those who can pay for it, not necessarily to the most gifted students. Therefore, people are educated based on zip codes, not their aptitudes.

In China, advancement is based on aptitude, not affluence. Look at STEM Graduates: China 4.7M (Total population: 1.386B); USA only has 568K! Granted, China has more people, but education is not optional or a privilege there.

Students lose their ambition when they see that they do not have the basic resources to fully participate. The most difficult problem that students have is not math, science, understanding geopolitics or conjugating verbs. The greatest challenge our students have is facing society's rejection of their gifts and talents by celebrating the entertainers and athletes but not making provisions in public education for them to develop their aptitudes.

We make valuable STEM enrichment opportunities and technology available to teachers and students that normally won't have the same access that more affluent schools do. Affluent schools are more likely to offer coding/Cmputer Science as part of their curriculum.

Our STEM program offers resources to students that have high mechanical, technological acumen, and an interest in science or engineering but have limited opportunities to develop it.

Imani Malaika-MehtaMay 24, 2019Comment

FEATURED EVENTS

Tuskegee Airmen and STEMS on the VINES

A Partnership in Preserving the Legacy

military-jet-fighter-aircraft-carrier-sundown-silhouette-40830.jpg

A CHILD'S FASCINATION WITH FLIGHT

The best way to explore the physics of flight is by flying! Our annual field trip to iFly indoor skydiving allows students to experience the effects of wind in the most personal and relevant way. We take an interdisciplinary approach to STEM. Students will learn the engineering of wind tunnels and the aerodynamics of skydiving. Calculating the time it takes to travel, altitudes and velocity shows how math is used to obtain very useful information.

A SHORTAGE OF PILOTS IN THE FUTURE

1992 - 90% of pilots hired in 1992 had military backgrounds
2008 - Only 28% of pilots had military backgrounds
51.6 is the average age of an American Airlines pilot
83 American Airlines pilots are under 40 years of age
560 American Airlines pilots are over 60 years of age
Fewer pilots are certified to meet the demand

PRESERVING THE LEGACY

“Helping Youth Fulfil Their Promise” was this year’s theme of the recently concluded Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) national convention. It’s National Youth Academy provided opportunities to enjoy hands-on interaction, behind the scenes exposure, in-depth discussions and a planned introductory training flight, all of which tied directly to the mission and goals of TAI objectives. Participants gained an appreciation of the story and lessons of America’s first Black military aviators, the legendary Tuskegee Airmen and their legacy of determination, education, perseverance and patience as necessary skills in achieving success in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

In 2016, the local Kansas City TAI chapter began developing a similarly supportive relationship with STEMS on the VINES/KC Creators Clubs. We see this as an appropriate path to help expand an awareness of the impact and contributions of lesser-known pioneering minority aviators on international history. Our joint venture will expand an awareness of the vast opportunities in the field of aviation and careers in the aerospace industry. STEMS provides a platform for meeting today’s youth in a stimulating arena where a formula for yesterday’s successes may be explored as a roadmap for their positive futures.

ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO BE PILOTS

Bessie Coleman, Amelia Earhart and Rosie the Riveter are iconic American heroes. We need to let our girls know these important roles in history. Beyond this, women can and must find their space to help fashion the future of aviation. We must give our young ladies many experiences with flight, physics, astrophysics, air traffic control terminology, programming and aeronautic engineering.

PROGRAMMING: A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE NASA SPACE MISSIONS

The film "Hidden Figures" documents the critical role of women of color in programming the trajectory of NASA space flights. Our Board member Dr. Mozilla Dyer was instrumental in configuring the specifications for NASA space suits that astronauts wore. She is a tremendous role model for all of our STEMS students.

News & Events