A High School Education is Necessary, But Has This Opinion Ever Been Confirmed?

First, to set the stage, let’s start by saying that most believe education to be critical. Education here meaning high school since it is compulsory and everyone is required to attend. But specifically the content of the “education” spoken to by the majority is quite different from what is essential to survive in today’s competitive [...]

Best Teacher of the Century Award: Your Mom and Dad

First, remember back to when you were but a wee one, maybe four or five years old. Or better yet, take a look at your four or five year old. What do you see? A copy machine, right? As you drive in the car, walk through the park, go on excursions and adventures here and [...]

Act to Help Children Read Gooder: Where Are We With the No Child Left Behind Law?

In 2001 the George H. W. Bush “No Child Left Behind” bill became law. If you’ve forgotten what it required, here’s a little refresher. Schools which receive Title I funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 must make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in test scores. Ultimately, by 2014 every student is to [...]

Sorry Folks, Education is Not Institutional But Rather Individual

Certainly, for a child or youth, what to learn and how it is be taught should be left up to the adult, the child being too inexperienced and young to know better.
But if a child is to learn, spending at least the required twelve years in school in America, why this “education”?
For one, there are [...]

Education Reform: What Works, What Doesn’t and What’s Missing

One of the main issues regarding education reform is the extent of what that really means. In order to understand the full thrust of the problem, one has to understand the playing field first and foremost.
The term “No child left behind” is often bandied about by politicians when talking reform. But can that federal ideal [...]

How to Succeed: Ignore the Majority and Do the Unexpected

If someone is successful, she is often asked “How’d you do it? Did you take classes? Get a certificate? Degree?” And when you tell them “No, I self-appointed myself” or did it on your own, most can’t believe you were able to do so without getting certificated or validated by some “official” or “expert.”
The questioning [...]

Colleges Have Their Own Best Interest in Mind Not Your Child’s

What exactly does “colleges” mean?
Here we’re not talking about faculty or staff but those who make the decisions. They are trustees (board members) and presidents. And this is a problem. Why? Because they do not live lives similar to that of students, faculty, or staff. Most live in comparative luxury looking to better their lot [...]

Why is the Majority of Your College Education a Waste of Time

Education today, to a great degree, is wasting time, money, and effort-the time and effort of the student and, to a great degree, the parents’ money.
Let’s begin by dispelling the myth that teachers (for now let’s talk primary and secondary) are all that and a bag of chips. Teachers are not only given too much [...]

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa, Our Schools Are In a Mess and I’d Like to Help

High school graduation rates in certain states, like California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and ten others hovers around 50%. That’s close to a third of the U.S. At the top are states that graduate 80%, but most of those states don’t even have 1 million residents, such as North and South Dakota, and Montana, and [...]

College Tips to Help Save Time, Money, Aggravation, and Your Sanity: Career

Let’s begin with what you’re all shooting for in the first place (I hope): Career satisfaction and success
In college, generally one thing is acquired: knowledge. Very rarely will you learn the critical skills and attitudes needed for success in your career or, for that matter, life (family, social, political, etc.) However, for now let’s just [...]