Tag Archives: Terre Haute
Poverty In Terre Haute
The Terre Haute community now more than ever is facing an increasing rate of poverty. According to an Indiana public media article the unemployment rate has increased 11 percent with the relocation of multiple large business. 1 in 3 Terre Haute children are living in poverty since 2009. Vigo county schools have reduced lunch programs and emergency dental care to help low income students. However, state funding has been continuously cut throughout the years, which makes it harder for schools to help as much. The following map shows the poverty levels in Terre Haute:
According to this map there are some areas have 50% of their citizens living below poverty levels. The same article compared the poverty level in Terre Haute to the state of Indiana and it shows that the poverty level percentage is double the state of Indiana. The Ryves Up! program is trying to help students by teaching them how to grow produce instead of just donating food, which helps them learn a new trade that will help them in the future.
The Future Engineers
Teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to youth is unbelievably important. According to the Council of Canadian Academies, elementary school is the best time to start introducing STEM topics, like Ryves Up! does for Franklin Elementary students in Terre Haute. Children at this age start to form their attitudes toward STEM subjects. Developing interest and having fun with STEM, such as laughing third grader Carmen McMurray stating the red fluid from a white radish looks like a chopped off finger, makes kids more likely to pursue STEM in the future.
Kids that are taught STEM at an early age are set up for success in their futures. The U.S. Department of Commerce says STEM occupations are growing almost twice as fast as non-STEM majors, at 17% compared to 9.8%. An article from Engineering For Kids discusses the benefits of providing kids a STEM education. This article mentions STEM taught children will be more likely to pursue STEM degrees, and that STEM degree holders have a higher average income even in non-STEM careers. The STEM education from Ryves Up! helps teach kids problem solving, critical thinking, and sets them up for a more sustainable economic future for themselves and their future families.
STEM teaches kids about topics with real life applications, which keeps the kids interested and engaged, similar to this video. An article from Deseret News discusses the room for growth in the future for STEM. All careers, especially as time goes on, will require basic STEM competencies whether they are STEM or non-STEM. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reports there will be a deficiency of 1,000,000 STEM graduates from now until 2025. This means kids that pursue STEM will be in an advantageous position to obtain STEM careers.