This week there was an article in the NY Times about Gadget Camp, a workshop for girls in River Grove, IL to expose girls to the skills needed to get jobs in manufacturing. I love this idea! As one of the few girls that took (and thoroughly enjoyed) wood shop and metal shop, I wish I had something like this growing up. There’s absolutely no reason girls and women can’t do these jobs.
Through my involvement with the New Haven Manufactures’ Association (NHMA) Workforce Development Committee, I’ve seen personally how many how many manufacturers there are in CT and how many jobs they have. Yes, there are jobs in manufacturing, and not only are there jobs, these are good jobs that don’t require a college degree. They do however require skills, especially math skills, and unfortunately, our public schools are not doing a great job providing them.
Our Vocational schools, however, are providing kids with the skills they need for these jobs as well as a good traditional education. Before getting involved with the NHMA, I didn’t realize that the kids at the Vo-Tech schools took the same academic course load as public schools PLUS training in their field. The kids that I’ve met are bright and passionate about their field. Whether they go on to college or not, they have a bright future ahead of them.
Programs like Gadget Camp and even more so, the Vo-Tech system, provide much need skills and opportunities for the kids that participate in them, and critical talent for our businesses. We should do anything we can to support them.
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Showing posts with label girls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label girls. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Girl Power! Encouraging News on Girls in Tech
I’ve written a lot on the alarming lack of interest of girls (and boys) in technology careers. This week I read some encouraging news I wanted to share.
Google’s inaugural science fair was held on Monday and the three winners were all girls! Google reviewed more than 7,500 entries to bring the 15 top applicants to Google headquarters for final judging. These 15 were interviewed by luminaries in technology, including a Nobel Laureate, National Geographic Explorers, and some of Google’s best and brightest.
As we know, there is no shortage of younger girls interested in math and science, but for some reason that drops off in middle school, yet these girls were all teenagers. Let’s hope their interest continues. We need smart people like this in technology!
Google’s inaugural science fair was held on Monday and the three winners were all girls! Google reviewed more than 7,500 entries to bring the 15 top applicants to Google headquarters for final judging. These 15 were interviewed by luminaries in technology, including a Nobel Laureate, National Geographic Explorers, and some of Google’s best and brightest.
As we know, there is no shortage of younger girls interested in math and science, but for some reason that drops off in middle school, yet these girls were all teenagers. Let’s hope their interest continues. We need smart people like this in technology!
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