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NNOMYnews 1023: The militarization of STEM

4 Steps to Liberation: Paulo Freire and Pedagogy of the Oppressed

NNOMY - He has been called “the Rousseau of the 20th century” (Bhattacharya 2008: 101), “the John Dewey of the present era” (Kanpol 1997: 13) and “the most important educator” (Carnoy 2004: 7) of the second half of the 20th century”.[1] His book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, termed a “classic” and “a seminal work”, has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over 1 million copies; and as per a study of 16 top schools of education in the US, was one of the most frequently assigned texts in their philosophy of education courses.[2] “His thinking” it has been claimed, “continues to be rediscovered by generations of teachers, scholars, community activists and cultural workers in Europe and the Americas”, and his books “continues to be read, debated and discussed all over the world by progressive educators”. And a media article recently asserted that “Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed is timeless – as pertinent to the revolution in the Middle East now as to those in South America decades ago.”

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“Toward What Ends? A Critical Analysis of Militarism, Equity, and STEM Education”

Fordham Press - “Toward What Ends? A Critical Analysis of Militarism, Equity, and STEM Education”, authored by Shirin Vossoughi and Sepehr Vakil, describes the parallel tracks of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) as a way to find technologically- adept recruits for the military, and to promote equity and diversity among students in public schools.

NNOMY, the National Network Opposing the  Militarization of Youth  has been following this use of STEM for recruiting , and it is exhilarating that academics and teachers are working on this issue in schools. Looking forward to science-based organizations such as Science for the People to take up this misuse of science.

This chapter appears in Education at War:

The Fight for Students of Color in America’s Public Schools.

Why Is U.S. Military Pushing K-12 Students to Build Drones In Dayton?

Seth Kershner - Activists along with outspoken scholars and education writers like Henry Giroux, Kathy Barker and Amy Hagopian have all questioned the propriety of placing recruiters and other types of military personnel into close contact with children, which the United Nations defines as anyone under the age of 18. In a 2012 resolution, the American Public Health Association called for the demilitarization of schools, citing the creepy way that recruiters, acting as little more than trained salesmen, ingratiate themselves to win the trust of teens.

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Navy Steals: The military's new interest in STEM education

Seth Kershner - Although women make up about half of the United States workforce, they represent just 24 percent of careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). In order to correct this, major nonprofit groups have been organizing STEM enrichment camps for middle- and high-school girls, driven by the philosophy that more women will pursue STEM careers if their interest is piqued at an early age.

But recently, some girls-only STEM programs have gone beyond fostering interest in science and math among the next generation of women. Branches of the U.S. military—in particular, the Navy—have increasingly been using these programs to market the military to girls as young as 11 and 12.

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Drones Are a Military Recruiting Issue

Seth Kershner - With all the free publicity provided by the success of the film Zero Dark Thirty, you’d think that the Green Berets wouldn’t need their own vehicle in the MEC fleet. But as long as “night raids” continue to be a focus of American military activities abroad, this elite force will have to recruit for the future. Hence, the need for an Army Special Operations Adventure van, tricked out with simulators that allow visitors to experience a virtual counter-insurgency: firing a .50 cal. atop a “ground mobility vehicle” (Humvee), flying an AH6 “Little Bird” helicopter and -- of course -- piloting a drone.

The newest vehicle in the MEC, launched in 2012, is the Army STEM Experience, which purports to teach math and science skills in a military context. (According to a slide from a declassified Army PowerPoint presentation, this vehicle is also a good wedge for breaking into “hard-to-penetrate schools. ”) Through interactive video monitors and “virtual meetings” with military advisors, visitors are propelled into the year 2032 where they must use their skills in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math) to respond to a terrorist attack. One possible solution: using a drone to defuse the crisis and save civilization. On the Facebook page of the STEM Army Experience (which is apparently the only vehicle in the MEC with a presence on social media), one can find pictures of elementary school-aged children cavorting with recruiters. Remember, kids: You’re never too young to rain death by remote control.

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Our Commitment to STEM Education...and Permanent War

NNOMY- Under the rubrics of "corporate responsibility and citizenship," a major U.S. defense contractor states the following:

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions that range from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. To continue to innovate, it is important for us to support programming that encourages students globally to pursue STEM careers.

STEM careers for a permanently militarized economy if we leave our science education in our schools at the discretion and funding of military contractors. that is.. and the global death and suffering that will result.

Read their pitch |  Contractors ten years in our STEM and counting

Letter: Parents should know of program's Navy link

Miranda Groux - While it is encouraging to see so many Mount Everett students building robot submarines, Dick Lindsay's recent article ("Deep Dive," Eagle, March 13 2019) omitted a key fact about the program: SeaPerch is funded by the U.S. Navy, which sees the program as a way to market itself to middle and high school students.

The Navy spends more than $100 million annually on marketing efforts to help recruit a sufficient number of people with STEM skills. This effort extends from primary through graduate school. According to a 2019 planning document available online, "A Guide to Education and Workforce Naval STEM," SeaPerch is one of several Navy programs embedded in K-12 education. Through immersive activities like building unmanned submarines — or elaborate Lego robots, in the case of another Navy-funded program, FIRST Lego League — such programs help "share the Navy's mission with various communities" in order to recruit "the nation's best and brightest talent as part of our naval STEM workforce."

Read Miranda's Letter | Seaperch Website

Resistance: STEM Strikes the War Machine

The S.T.E.M. community contributes heavily to the war machine. In addition to civilian scientists who work for defense companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, at least two hundred thousand active duty U.S. military personnel perform science, engineering, and technical roles.f In 2017, America allocated $184 billion of its $583 billion military budget for research, design, and procurement of weapons and equipment.g Without the cooperation of the S.T.E.M. community, drones, nuclear bombs, and fighter jets would not be possible.

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Science, Technology Engineering and Math programs (STEM)  in our schools have been assumed by military defense contractors to promote their recruitment for qualified  future employees and to normalize the war business in young adults emerging into our society. This is how you don't build a peaceful world, when war ismaking is a revolving door between defense contractors, government, and the economy. It all spells permanent war Check out this week's NNOMYNews and it is all about STEM at http://bit.ly/NNOMYnewsSTEM

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