Left Brain Thinking Inadequate
Do you find cell phones fascinating? The advanced technology that those little communication devices have is amazing. I can remember the time when a “cell phone” was the size of boom box. Now, you can barely tell that someone has one in their palm. I suspect that we have not seen the end of “small and powerful” in our lifetime.I am also amazed at the prices. A high end sleek phone may be pricey but otherwise, units are giveaway items. I have one of those phones that carry a pay as you go plan and the phone was less than $10! I can’t imagine that phone being built in the US; the costs would be ten times or more per unit.
Here’s the point: the US cannot compete in manufacturing when things like cell phones can be sold at less than $10 per unit. Electronic devices have long been the domain of the Pacific Rim. Actually, there’s no money/profit in electronics; it’s the software and accessories that make companies profitable. Last year, the ringtone industry sold over $14 billion in downloads!
So people have under-$20 phones with a $100 worth of add-ons. Left brain thinking dictates that people learn to make phones. Right brain thinking dictates that people compose ringtones. Which group will stay in business longer and make more money?
Unfortunately throughout the American public school system left brain education dominates mainly because it can be easily measured. That’s great for school districts attempting to show improvement or maintaining standards. They get their annual government subsidies. But it’s not good for thousands of students that have their creativity squashed because of the self-interest of school boards and administrators.
Further, left brain education limits what people can do in the future. People are “tied” to the facts and knowledge of the time. Workers’ thinking ands skills become obsolete as new information becomes available. Companies have already turned off employee education as part of their mission. Instead companies close or outsource their work to those that can provide products at cut-rate costs.
Creativity can be enhanced in everyone just as math skills can be improved. Everyone has a creative side; it just needs to be “refined” to be more useful. But, as long as the money chasers are in control, left brain education will dominate.
So our problem as educators and community leaders is the loss of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture, once over 86 percent of the workforce. Replacing those jobs are service industry jobs now over 90 percent of the workforce. The US economy needs people who are creative and personable. These kinds of people will create new jobs and new wealth in our communities.
Businesses that are 5 years old or less created 20 percent of the new jobs every year since 1980. Older businesses remained flat in growth. Over 85 percent of the companies in the US have 25 employees or less. Small and creative businesses dominate the economic landscape. As teachers prepare students for the future, it is essential to teach diversity, interpersonal relationships and provide outlets for creativity.
This may be related to the above: 37 percent of girls and 20 percent of boys in grades 9 to 12 felt sad or hopeless for at least two weeks during the previous school year. Help them find hope in the future by listening to their fears and providing coping mechanisms.
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