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Why are there so few black people in STEM?

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Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#131

Post by klyrs »

cocktailpeanuts wrote: post #109
klyrs wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People tend to be heavily influenced by their environment as they grow up. Are you referring to the country's history of slavery, segregation and mass incarceration? Because I'd agree that "the environment" that black people are raised in is definitely shaped by racism, past and present. That you acknowledge its existence as a footnote makes me think you're underestimating the impact of 400 years of treating people…

That you insinuate i'm being racist even as you acknowledge my acknowledgement of the existence of racism just tells me that you're here to fight and not willing to have a civil discourse.

What I said is that your analysis is missing historical context; that your acknowledgement is inadequate given that context. I certainly didn't mean to insinuate that you're racist, and I don't see what would give you that idea. Are you sure that I'm the one spoiling for a fight?

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#132

Post by opportune »

rayiner wrote: post #125
neffy wrote: post #10

For the same reason there are so few poor whites in STEM. America's dysfunctional education funding. Make education funding federal, and have a nationwide push to have small classes and well funded schools for everybody, and this would be fixed in 10 years. As it is, rich districts pay more taxes and get better schools. Funny that.

The system you’re talking about already exists! Half of all K-12 funding comes from state and federal sources, and is directed to the neediest kids. Here is the district by district breakdown in Maryland: https://i2.wp.com/conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/wp-content/up... Baltimore City has less than half the local education funding of Anne Arundel (a predominantly white, upper middle class county containing Annapolis an…

No amount of funding towards schools can make up for a home life or general environment that's not conducive towards education. I wish we in the US looked at solutions beyond throwing money at it (or at least, in a different way) because it obviously doesn't work.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#133

Post by the_resistence »

DeonPenny wrote: post #126

I'd like to see how many poorer men in general. I'm a black engineer and I couldn't count how many of my classmates would have graduated if they were in my shoes. There were 4-5 weeks at different where I just ran out money and sat on bed instead of eating thinking I couldn't be hungry is I was sleep. I usually found enough money to collect to buy a bag of rice for the month. But regardless of race this is hard. Give…

Really great food for thought.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#134

Post by belval »

DeonPenny wrote: post #126

I'd like to see how many poorer men in general. I'm a black engineer and I couldn't count how many of my classmates would have graduated if they were in my shoes. There were 4-5 weeks at different where I just ran out money and sat on bed instead of eating thinking I couldn't be hungry is I was sleep. I usually found enough money to collect to buy a bag of rice for the month. But regardless of race this is hard. Give…

If I can provide an interesting data point, I had access to a survey given to students at one college that asked a few questions to cross it with the student's results.

Guess which was the undeniably most common issue among people failing two classes or more? Financial insecurity.

It's hard figuring out a solution there as that was in a country with cheap (not free but still) education.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#135

Post by cbsks »

belval wrote: post #134
DeonPenny wrote: post #126

I'd like to see how many poorer men in general. I'm a black engineer and I couldn't count how many of my classmates would have graduated if they were in my shoes. There were 4-5 weeks at different where I just ran out money and sat on bed instead of eating thinking I couldn't be hungry is I was sleep. I usually found enough money to collect to buy a bag of rice for the month. But regardless of race this is hard. Give…

If I can provide an interesting data point, I had access to a survey given to students at one college that asked a few questions to cross it with the student's results. Guess which was the undeniably most common issue among people failing two classes or more? Financial insecurity. It's hard figuring out a solution there as that was in a country with cheap (not free but still) education.

Anecdotally, of my friend group in college (at a large state school in the US) everyone who was financially stable eventually graduated with a bachelors degree. 3 out of 4 of my friends who were paying themselves through college dropped out. Having a part time job and trying to go to school full time took a huge toll on them.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#137

Post by _8j50 »

aaron695 wrote: post #122
_8j50 wrote: post #118

They sure love that 13% figure. Why are so many nigerians in america so well educated [1] ? Not doubting any other assertions but my theory is that historically, STEM has not been a well reputed path to success,recognition and respect for black americans both in their communities and nationally. Segregation is only half a century ago,but even these days being STEM educated and black is associated with negative stereo…

Do Nigerian have such high levels in the USA because they need these degrees to immigrate? https://africacheck.org/reports/nigerian-immigrants-top-clas...

It's childrens of Nigerians mostly.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#138

Post by treeman79 »

emmelaich wrote: post #89
neffy wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's not really a lot of debate about what makes for good schools. Small class sizes, and well qualified(paid) teachers. It is that simple. You can try whatever alternative educational styles you want, and it will not work in a class size of 50. Nor does the federal government have to take over the education system to achieve this, it just has to guarantee equal funding for all students. Or the US can continue to…

You need teachers who are passionate and regard it as a vocation rather than just another job. Pay and qualifications don't necessarily imply this. Poor discipline in a school can demoralise a teacher. You also need to get rid of teachers who are badly underperforming. This can be very difficult, which is also demoralising. I've gleaned the above from having many family and extended family members in teaching.

I had crappy teachers for the most part.

I knew what I wanted though. Every class had 1-2 students that were hungry to learn, rest were there because easy money or such. Eventually dropped out and had a successful start to a career. Far outpacing those that stayed in.

That was a awhile ago.

I know some school have way better curriculums these days.

Still, I refuse to hire jr develops unless I see that same hunger to get better.

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#139

Post by [deleted] »

DeonPenny wrote: post #126

I'd like to see how many poorer men in general. I'm a black engineer and I couldn't count how many of my classmates would have graduated if they were in my shoes. There were 4-5 weeks at different where I just ran out money and sat on bed instead of eating thinking I couldn't be hungry is I was sleep. I usually found enough money to collect to buy a bag of rice for the month. But regardless of race this is hard. Give…

[deleted]

Re: Why are there so few black people in STEM?

#140

Post by webmaven »

deogeo wrote: post #23

> Research has pointed out that students are more likely to regard teachers of the same race and ethnicity as role models, and due to proximity to them, put more effort into education and have higher college ambitions. Is this claiming that students in homogeneous societies are at an advantage, because they are more likely to share their teacher's ethnicity?

There is some evidence for that being an important factor in the performance of the highest ranked education systems.

Another perspective is that in a country with an ethnically homogeneous population, it becomes politically easier to push through reforms.

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