How the Cold War Shaped STEM Education: What Homeschoolers Should Know
Why does American education prioritize STEM? And what does that mean for homeschoolers?
For many years, the public educational system in the United States has strongly prioritized STEM education. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) Generally speaking, STEM orientation is not questioned and is taken as self-evident. A well-rounded STEM education, with its techno-centric focus, is considered essential to prepare children for the demands of the information economy. It just makes sense that modern education should focus on science and technology, right?
Challenging Self-Evident Assumptions
However, one thing I have learned from studying history is that the assertions a society thinks are self-evident seldom are. What are often taken as self-evident principles are generally the products of historical circumstances and cultural conditioning. These assumptions are so deeply ingrained that society accepts them uncritically; they are just part of the natural order of things.
Therefore, we should not blindly accept the premise that STEM is the way of the future. Instead, we should look at it critically, as with all things. For instance, America’s emphasis on STEM is deeply influenced by the geopolitics of the Cold War. Prior to 1957, American education was deeply oriented toward the humanities. Children spent years learning Greek and Latin. History, geography, and literature were highly valued. Students were thoroughly exposed to Western civilization’s great plays, poetry, and literary works. So, what happened in 1957 that changed all this?
The Sputnik Effect and the STEM Pivot
The answer is the news of the Soviets’ successful launch of Sputnik, the first satellite. Indeed, it is hard to overstate how the launch of Sputnik spooked U.S. authorities, who feared the U.S. was falling behind the Soviets in technology. The result was a swift transformation of the American educational system, pivoting it towards science, math, and technology. A sweeping rollout of initiatives followed, dethroning the humanities and replacing them with STEM-focused programs. The goal was to nurture a new generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who would have the intellectual chops to compete with the Soviet Union, not only in the space race but across every field of science.
Of particular note is the passage of the 1958 National Defense Education Act (NDEA) by the Eisenhower administration. This law drastically expanded the scope of the federal government’s foray into education. It established the legitimacy of the federal government’s funding (and therefore oversight) of higher education. NDEA laid the groundwork for the modern student loan system of funding collegiate studies and implemented the standardized test to assess student progress. This act also provided ample funds for strengthening science, mathematics, and foreign language instruction.
The Long-Term Consequences of the NDEA
Now, if there are any words that make homeschoolers bristle, it’s phrases like “federal funding” and “standardized tests.” The NDEA set American public education on a course that many today consider disastrous. The spiraling cost of higher education, the bloated student loan industry, the absurdity of “teaching to the test,” and the federal funds-for-conformity scheme that has taken over state schools all trace their origin back to this act.
Bad as this all is, what I find most alarming is the very deliberate effort to tie education to national defense in the context of Cold War geopolitics. The pivot towards STEM was not done because it was the best educational model for integrated human development, fostered innovation, or even because studies showed American children were mathematically behind. It was done to breed a new class of engineers trained to build bigger and better weapons and space crafts to outmaneuver the Soviets.
Therefore, it behooves us to ask whether this strategic decision made by the United States government back in 1957 in the context of the Cold War should still be the determinant of our educational decisions today. Are we living in the same world as 1957? Are our anxieties the same? Is American society today in danger of becoming technologically underdeveloped? If not, we can and should question the enthronement of STEM as the orientation of our societal education.
STEM as Part of a Balanced Education
This is not to say STEM should be neglected by any means. STEM disciplines are a valuable part of any well-rounded academic program. Any child considering a career in engineering, science, or computer technology should absolutely prioritize these studies. However, we really should not uncritically accept the enthronement of STEM as the core component of every student’s education.
The pivot towards STEM reflects an almost seventy-year-old strategic decision by the United States government based on a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Today, we have a much better appreciation for the role of customization in our children’s education and the importance of nurturing their interests and passions.
Final Thoughts for Homeschoolers
I will have more to say about this subject in a future article, but for now, I want to encourage you not to worry if your child isn’t taking as much math as other kids or doesn’t seem as interested in the sciences. It’s okay. There’s no one uniform way to be educated, and there are many promising paths in life that do not require years and years of STEM education, especially at the expense of the humanities.
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you agree? Disagree? To continue the discussion, join me and other homeschooling parents at our Homeschool Connections Community or our Facebook group!
