I agree with the author that pushing kids into STEM for STEM's sake is stupid. In particular, there is no shortage of scientists, which is why they work insane

I agree with the author that pushing kids into STEM for STEM's sake is stupid. In particular, there is no shortage of scientists, which is why they work insane hours and make fast food wages well into their 30's. We already have enough people wasting their 20's on a PhD who will never get a tenure track faculty job as a full-time researcher. The current job:gradstudent ratio is untenable. Want to make science attractive and more effective? Cut grad student enrollments in half and triple grad student pay so that it is comparable to what other STEM grads make in the workforce; in this case, choosing science would not be a major financial mistake, even for the masses who never get a faculty job. Professors would have fewer students, enabling better mentorship and improved job outlook for each graduate. Increase pay for professors so that they make money comparable to other highly educated professionals. Endow faculty chairs at major universities and set a mandatory faculty retirement age so that deadwood profs aren't hogging positions needed by rising stars. Mandate open publishing. These changes could be implemented easily if legislatures and funding agencies wanted them, but nobody seems to want that. If the government wants people in science, they should spend money making it a better career, not spend money to slap a coat of marking gloss on a relatively bleak situation.