Sitting in the auditorium of Boston Latin School at the dawn of a new school year, every sixie hears of the School’s “contemporary classical education” that has historically defined it as a liberal arts school. As they progress through the years, students are required to learn Latin and participate in declamation as a part of the core BLS curriculum. By junior year, however, a sizable percentage of students seem to abandon the classical part of BLS education in favor of the contemporary: STEM. BLS has undoubtedly been shifting from a liberal arts school to a STEM school in recent years. This development should not be viewed with alarm, but rather acceptance.
One reason for this shift is the perceived financial stability and return on investment that students associate with STEM fields. In modern society, many people place a major emphasis on making money. Because of the rapid and highly publicized innovations in STEM, students think there are more job openings related to the field, which is important in the highly competitive job market. Liberal arts, while indeed able to provide high salaried jobs, don’t have the same fast-paced developments and publicity seen with STEM, contributing to a decline in students who pursue them.
Seniors, especially at BLS, tend to choose a pre-medical track in college. Beyond the financial impact of becoming a doctor, students generally think pre-med is a safe direction to go in. Evan Ding (I) explains, “If you choose pre-med, you have basically the next, at least 8 to 12 years of your life already planned out for you.” Spurred on by the wealth of opportunities in the medical or biotechnology industries present in Boston, it makes sense why people decide to pursue medicine.
BLS also does an excellent job of supporting students through its science and technology departments, allowing them to be able to pursue their interests in a wide variety of subjects. BLS currently offers six science and five math AP courses that range from AP Chemistry to AP Calculus.
Another factor that may contribute to the increase in people wishing to pursue a career in STEM is the internet. Scrolling on YouTube, one can see a ton of educational videos teaching anything from environmental science to mechanical engineering. This early exposure can grow students’ interest in the subjects and undoubtedly inspires them with passion.
Even though STEM is a great and evolving pathway and opens up infinitely many doors of opportunity for students to explore, some argue that there is just as much value in being educated about the history of the world, studying the plays of Shakespeare and learning the Classics. BLS English teacher Mr. Mark Sanford shares, “The beauty of the arts is what makes us human.” Humanity’s ability to create works of literature, works of film and music that contribute to the quality of our every-day lives is irreplaceable and incredibly valuable.
Students ultimately should not restrict themselves to just one option for their future, as a large part of academics involves balance among subjects. It is essential for them to learn about the past through history and be able to apply their knowledge in the future. Whether you are passionate about science or the arts, BLS has many resources to expand your horizons and introduce you to great opportunities to learn.
BLS Science Department Head Ms. Kathleen Bateman shares that she would give both students who wish to pursue STEM and students who wish to pursue humanities the same advice: “Try everything and keep learning. […] The wicked problems that plague the world demand interdisciplinary solutions.”