Thanks to STEM, This Time The Revolution Will Be Televised

Last week, I shared with you the wonderful experience I had with the YPR. I also mentioned how meeting with the YPR (Young People Revolution) made me ponder what I believe are critical questions parents should ask themselves:

• Does my child even know that they are living in the midst of a revolution?
• Am I raising a child who is prepared for their revolution?
• If I’m not raising a revolutionary child, why aren’t I and what am I waiting on?

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED ON YOUTUBE

In 1970, Gill Scott Heron recorded the song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” was a homage to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. In the world Gill Scott Heron rapped about, revolutions occurred in the street. Those wishing to witness or participate in social change had to leave the house to experience it. Those fighting for civil rights had to be front and center if a struggle had any chance of becoming a revolution.

Today, Gill Scott Heron’s poetic declaration about “The Revolution” is no longer as simple as declaring that “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. Beyond simply recognizing that there are a number of things for which revolution is necessary, today we can see revolution in real time wherever it is occurring.

There is no longer a requirement that we leave the house or be front and center for a struggle to become a revolution. From the riots in Ferguson, Missouri to the upheaval in Ukraine to the unrest amplified by ISIL to the demands of political reform in China people all over the world are revolting and we can tune in anytime to get a first-hand account.

LET’S GET RIGHT TO THE STEM

As much as I would love to debate the historical significance and current necessity for revolution, this is neither the time nor the place for that discussion. Instead, I merely want to draw your attention to the fact that “The Revolution Is Being Televised”.

The Revolution is being televised on our flat screen TVs, laptops, tablets and phones. The Revolution is being televised on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube. The Revolution is being televised because of STEM.

The proliferation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is responsible for the creation of the camera phones that makes it possible to record and upload pictures and video of the revolution. The explosion of STEM allows the uploaded video and pictures to be shared with the world instantaneously. The establishment of social media sites – created by the masters of STEM – provide a place for the world to congregate where we can share the best revolutionary practices and strategies.

TIME FOR A STEM REVOLUTION

Yet for the obvious potency and exquisiteness of STEM to bring awareness and support to any cause anywhere on the planet, many parents continue to behave as though Gill Scott Heron’s lyrics are applicable today. Word to all parents, it’s no longer the 60s or 70s. Thanks to STEM, this time the revolution will be televised. Thanks to STEM, the revolution is being televised.

The only question that remains is whether our children will be ready for their revolution. For those parents who aren’t paying attention in the voice of Dap from School Daze – I urge you to “Wake Up!”  Get on up because the world is in the midst of a STEM revolution. Raise up because the STEM revolution will not only influence the future socio-economic standing of those in our local community but it will impact the world on geographical, social, political, and economic levels.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

If you remain unconvinced about the STEM revolution, consider the issue of employment. In the United States, there are approximately four unemployed workers for every job. However, in the case of STEM workers there is only one unemployed STEM worker for two unfilled STEM jobs. Even for those among us who are not mathematicians, the math is quite simple – there is only one non-STEM job available for every four non-STEM job applicants (4 applicants for 1 job) while there are two STEM jobs available for every one STEM applicant (1 applicant for 2 jobs).

As the aforementioned data illustrates, the greater probability for future employment resides in STEM. No matter how much you are a fan of Gill Scott Heron, this revolution will be televised. Thus, if we are serious about giving our children a chance to be active and prepared participants in their generation’s revolution, if we want to make certain that our children will have a voice in the important world issues of today and tomorrow, and if we selfishly want to be able to count on the continuation of governmental programs like Social Security and Medicare when we are old, we must make sure that our children are proficient in STEM.

In the final analysis, it appears that there was only one question to be asked: To STEM or not to STEM.

Are you still trying to deny that these are revolutionary times? Are you raising a revolutionary or a dependent who may never move out of your house?