Many of us have learned the hard way that attempting to change what our kids learn can cause an outcry. While some have taken such controversies as an excuse to overlook SMT programs, they in fact are the strongest evidence of why such programs are necessary. Science, math, and technology all play a powerful role in how our society functions, and for that reason students need to be conversant with them. In fact, public controversies can be a way to interest students and integrate SMT with other subjects across the curriculum. Doing so productively, however, depends on a solid grasp of the nature of science, math, and technology.

As policy makers and public figures, school board members are often caught squarely in the middle of these tough decisions. The first priority must always be the students, who will depend on a strong grounding in SMT as they make their way through even tougher decisions in the future.