America's Wasted Talent: A Karplus Lecture

摘要

Millions of young people who could achieve in mathematics and science are being discour- aged or prevented from studying these subjects. Access to jobs, status and power in a high- tech, information economy depends upon mastery of these fields, but erroneous beliefs about aptitude are limiting the options for young women, students of color and students from pov- erty. Curriculum reform efforts are exciting, much-needed improvements, but the single most important change we need is a national consciousness raising. We should hold high expec- tations for all students and expect virtually all of them to achieve. Outdated and false notions about which groups possess the aptitude for technical subjects should not be used as barriers to access.