When I saw Thomas Sowell speak (early 90s, maybe), there was a line of young girls waiting to get his autograph on copies of his most recent books. It gives one hope for the future when girls are excited by great intellects, whether scientific or economic.
In the first place, Thomas Sowell would NEVER be invited to speak at an elementary school; he's too conservative.
In the second place, maybe those young girls were attracted to nerds?
A couple years ago we were in a store at the mall. Books, posters, etc.
There was a youngster, pre teen, buying a poster of Albert Einstein. My kids were so impressed. They too felt there was hope.