Vivian Smotherman makes an interesting observation on public education and its focus on STEM in this episode of The Valley Pod. Smotherman, the Durango Democrat challenging Colorado State Sen. Cleave Simpson, talks with reporter Owen Woods about her campaign, her time in the Navy, and what she’s learned as an offshore oil and gas worker and pig farmer in Texas.
On public education, Smotherman made this observation while addressing a question on legislative committees and statewide topics she would want to focus on if she’s elected to represent the San Luis Valley and Senate District 6.
“I would love to be on education (committee) because outside of financing, I have another goal for education, and that is to see it switch away from this extreme focus on STEM careers that we seem to have shifted over the last 20 years and get it back to a more balanced approach,” she said.
“Humanities are important. Absolutely. Civics are important. History is important. These are lessons that seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle because we’ve shifted away from just educating kids to forcing them into this thought pattern that says, everything you do is so you can get a job. I don’t think anyone’s childhood should be spoiled by saying, the only reason you’re here every day is so you can learn how to get a job. Learn, read, experience the life out there, because it’s amazing. There’s so much information and so many things and so many career paths. Don’t limit our children by forcing down one path. Open it up, get our school system back to a balance point where we’re producing educated citizens instead of just workers.”
During the interview she leaned on her background in offshore oil and gas to explain how she can contribute to the Colorado Legislature and talked about her background as a pig farmer and the lessons she carries from that experience.
“Wherever I end up, I’m going to make a difference. I always have. I think my ability to get people on board, my ability to bring people together and have them move in a productive direction is going to make a difference.
“I’m a problem solver that starts with the problem, finds the most direct solution, and then finds a way to get there. I threw all the other garbage. The emotion, the hate or the love or the enthusiasm, that all gets pushed aside because here’s a problem, let’s find a solution. Do it in a straightforward manner, and it can make it work.”Listen to the full interview here, and her thoughts on housing, healthcare, childcare, and the mental health of farmers.