The education system in the US has not been keeping up. To some degree, it’s why Kmart and Target feel they can demand college degrees to staff their stores. Of course, it may also be related to the fact that many college grads can’t get the jobs they expected- so they are applying to Kmart and Target.
Tag Archives: Education
Lets Get STEM to root early
Way back in the prehistoric age, when I was going to college, there were very few women heading for the engineering profession. Nor were there a slew of Black folks. As a matter of fact, my engineering/science college (undergraduate) had about 5 women enrollees. And, to the best of my knowledge there were significantly less than 3 score (there may have been 10) Black students. Out of an undergraduate population of nearly 3000.
Music is part of STEM?
I’ve always been a great fan of Big Band music and Jazz. So, I was only slightly surprised to hear Herbie Hancock explain the confluence of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and jazz. He strongly believes that there is an intrinsic link between building things and playing music. Which, of course, means that our schools’ idea of cutting music from the curriculum is not helping our kids with STEM education.
Economic Distress
I remember when candidate Ronald Reagan would prance about asking “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” It was his effective mantra to become the US President.
Who’s that, again?
When I was little, I remembered hearing stories about one of the key executives of Sears, Roebuck & Company, who made a difference in this country. That was back when Sears Roebuck meant you could expect good deals and good products. (I even had the chance to work with Sears Roebuck years later, back when the RV industry was in its heyday. I felt pretty good being among their company then.)
Que Sera, Sera?
Life is different. That’s what everyone says when they’re asked to give millenials advice. Because folks no longer sign on with one employer for life, because our skill sets must change, our needs change.
Innovation Practicalities
One of the things I learned at MIT was how universities can increase their ability to provide scholarships and maintain their educational excellence. It wasn’t from the conventional academic process. No, these funds didn’t come from government grants for research. Because even back then, there wasn’t much (or any) excess in the funding that was provided by NIH, DOD, NSF, and the variety of alphabet agencies that support our educational research programs.
The Gaps Remain…
I live in a fairly affluent section of America. Our high school is the largest in the Commonwealth, with 3400. With a wide range of aptitudes and ambitions. Many of our graduates attend the Ivies (and the elite state schools like Michigan, Virginia, etc.)… and some are recent (legal and illegal) immigrants lacking formal schooling and/or a foundation in English. Some are among the 1%… both at the top and bottom of the spectrum.
How to get to Sesame Street… and Why!
“Daddy, how can I tell which balloons are red and which are yellow?”
My then 23 month old daughter was watching Sesame Street on TV. And, our TV was just a black and white set. Until that day. When I went out and bought a Kenmore (Sears) color TV, so she would know what the balloon colors were.
I’m not surprised
So, I was reading the New York Times (on line, which means special sections are available early). And, I am not sure if I am happy with the idea or against it.