Today is National STEM/STEAM Day. For those who aren’t familiar with these terms, let me share some history with you.
In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite launched into a low, elliptical orbit. By 1961, the Soviets had done it again, this time launching Soviet pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin aboard the Vostok 1 space capsule, the first-ever crewed spacecraft. President John F. Kennedy, who had only been in office for 125 days, stood before a joint session of Congress and said, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”1
The space race had begun as Kennedy threw down the gauntlet. One problem. The young minds that would accomplish this were behind other nations academically in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM.
At first, the STEM education seemed to be geared towards middle and high school ages. Today, STEM curriculum begins as early as age 3. Children going to STEM schools are focused on these major areas. Today, many STEM schools have been modified to being STEAM schools, the “A” standing for arts. Educators believed that a well-rounded education included arts. This started in the 21st century. I’m not sure how art makes us better scientists, techies, engineers, and mathematicians. That must be for someone to figure out with a higher pay grade!
Seeing young children doing intense mathematical equations or walking around in lab coats and goggles may seem comical at first. However, these young people are delving into robotics and technology like graduate-level educated adults. It’s very impressive!
I have long said that I believe kids have gotten a raw deal in American culture. Rather than being pushed to achieve great potential, they are allowed to languish in adolescent absurdity and teenage tomfoolery.
While many of our modern teens are playing video games in their free time, a Jewish boy was considered a man at 13 and celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. The Jewish girl was a woman at 12, celebrating her Bat Mitzvah. At these ages, they are viewed as responsible for themselves under the Law. Centuries past, many would be married very soon after this, taking on the responsibilities of a home, job, and parenthood.
Such a thought horrifies us today – and it should! Kids having kids is the phrase we would use, decrying that they are not ready. And that is true. Much has changed over the years and not all for the good.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we start marrying off our children in their preteen and early teen years . However, I am strongly suggesting that kids are capable of far more responsibility than they are given. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Adults, do we need to help our children put away their toys for good?
Consider the young boy king, Josiah. We read his story in 2 Kings 22:1-2. “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. (2) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” He hadn’t yet had 
Bar Mitzvah when he became king!
With the confidence of the Apostle Paul, let’s give our kids some assurance with 1 Timothy 4:12. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1https://www.space.com/jfk-moon-speech-congress-apollo-60-years
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