Teaching children to love numbers, patterns, and math
I met Dean Kamen in Chicago when he came to speak at an event. I remember him talking about one of his organizations, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). [1] Dean spoke about how he wanted to see the United States inspiring children to aspire to be scientists and researchers the way we inspire children to throw, bounce, or shoot a ball.
His position and remarks made, and make, so much sense to me. I never did, and do not, understand the obsession with sports figures and other celebrities. The time and interest on the part of the general public for celebrities and sporting events always seemed misguided and a waste of time and effort. We spend significantly more time watching reality television programs and sporting events than we do helping our children succeed in school. In what world does that make sense?
In the US, we have such a pervasive view that the majority of the population does not...
