JUNE MUSINGS, II

1. What’s a Sherpa?

Across the Internet, the word Sherpa is appearing and I’m sure it is creating much head scratching. According to Webster, Sherpa is: "a member of a Tibetan people living on the high southern slopes of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal who provide support for foreign trekkers and mountain climbers." Basically, you need to focus on the last part of the definition, providing support.
Hence, someone or some organization using the word Sherpa is referring to guiding you through a process or acting as a mentor. Now you have a new title to use: instead of Mr. Jones you can be Sherpa Jones!

2. Technology and Dull Kids

Ah, the old days when parents complained that their teenagers spent all their free time on the phone talking with friends. Talk, talk, talk and the conversations went on for hours (and that’s after seeing these kids all day in school). When the cell phone came along, it seemed like the talking would be a 24 x 7 non-stop event.
But, skip ahead to the IM age. That’s “instant messaging” for those of you unfamiliar with the tech jargon. Now, kids can type out cryptic messages on tiny keypads that defy parents' aging hands saddled with lessening motor skills.
They type a few characters and hit send. Get a reply and respond again. And the cycle goes on becoming more cryptic and at the same time more detailed with each passing cycle.
Studying kids with this IM behavior is leading educators to ask if students will suffer from a lack of spontaneity. Conversations on a phone require thinking on your feet and responding appropriately and in “real time.” IM allows you to take as much time as necessary and answer when ready or once you have the “right” answer.
While one may argue that it is good to stop and think about your responses before typing them for the world to see, the “real world” will expect you to think on your feet. Furthermore, what you say should have add clarity and meaning to the situation. You just can’t say “Ah, fudge” And walk away.
And for those who may counter with the notion that cryptic typing will enhance writing skills, that’s a big stretch. Only a small percentage of people have any idea what these kids are writing. Writing is intended to use language skills and be understood by a majority of people. IM is too cryptic to be used in business or academia.
The other concern I have is self-imposed isolationism that IM will encourage. Millions of teenagers will sit in their room and type out messages by the dozens to the legions of other shut-ins across the community. Not only will these teens become pasty white and de-conditioned, but they also will find it more difficult to deal with people. The workplace will become one large cubicle of people who want to be left alone with their IM.

3. The Poor Benefit With College Degree

Well in case Einstein missed this one, there’s some documentation that shows low-income people with college degrees will at least earn above the line of poverty. According to The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, 5 years after graduation from higher education, students from low-income families were doing as well as their peers from wealthier backgrounds. The researchers measured benchmarks as employment, salaries, home-buying and voter registration and found that over 86 percent of low income students were earning over $40K. The figure was 90 percent for higher income students.
Of course what the researchers left out was the total debt both income classes of students acquired in earning their college degree. With less financial help available to low-income students, they need to borrow more money to finish college. Wealthier students have less worry about paying back their student loans as their parents provided personal savings to get them started. For many students, college debt is tough to overcome and declaring bankruptcy is not an option.
Earning power is important and college does offer a few more opportunities to people than high school degrees alone. But, it would be a mistake to hype this study as a “way out” for low-income students. First, less than 30 percent of all college graduates are being hired in their fields; in the world of networking for high paying jobs, the wealthy have a clear advantage. Second, the researchers most likely counted professional athletes, a working class that is disproportionately represented from the poor. One pro contract of $50 to $80 million will help raise the averages of all graduates classified as low-income. That much money being earned by one person can certainly draw more people earning less than $40K into the average.
To be sure, higher education deserves increased public and private support as long as that generosity is passed on to deserving students. If higher education wants to champion the end of poverty, then college and universities need to graduate low-income students with virtually no debt.

4. Wow!

The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school.

--- George Bernard Shaw

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

JUNE MUSINGS

1. Met Any Arrogant Smart People Lately?

I support people working to be as smart as they can be. I admire those who can retain information; trivia is always fun to hear. I would like to see opportunities for education abound in every neighborhood and for people of all ages to attend classes wherever and whenever they want to. And, I am really impressed with those people who are two-sided thinkers, like designers and artists.
Then there’s the “harrumph” types that roll their head back and look down at you through those half-glasses perched on the tip on their nose. It can be a man or woman; both are known to take such a posture. It’s a clear sign that their knowledge trumps your knowledge. These people are Truman Capote arrogant.
I knew such a person years ago. He was a brilliant cardiovascular surgeon that believed so strongly in his abilities that everyone else was a mere peasant. He not only enjoyed rolling his head back, but he added the extra touch of flinging his tie over his shoulder to emphasize his superiority. It was like Superman standing defiantly by the American flag.
At first glance you would just stay away from this fellow. But it was amusing that he took this superiority posture even though the majority of people were taller than him! And his “hissy-fits” were truly funny. Once, he jumped on top a counter and slowly turned 360 degrees yelling “fools, fools fools, I’m surrounded by fools.” (It’s hard to make that kind of stuff up!)
The really amazing thing was when you worked to get to know him. What everyone interpreted as arrogance was his insecurity in a field that demands perfection. Underneath was a deeply dedicated man who was very sensitive to the needs of his patients and their families. He wanted everything to be perfect because he wanted them to have a full life. Once you got to know this man, you understood his eccentricities were not grandstanding but a real concern for achieving quality outcomes.
I had a chance to work beside this surgeon for about 8 years. I found him to be generous, dedicated and funny. But, he still had those times when Superman would re-appear. Unfortunately, medicine lost a great surgeon when he died a few years ago.
Maybe we need to “tickle” a few more of our arrogant acquaintances and get them to laugh. If we don’t get arrested for assault, maybe we will have an interesting and good friend.

2. Boom, Boom, Boom Out Go the Lights!

Now there’s a great party song. Add “Shout” and a keg of beer disappears in a heartbeat. Actually in this case the “Boom” refers to the advancing age of the baby boom generation that will be retiring by the millions over the next few years.
I saw a great descriptive term for this onslaught of retirees: the “Silver Tsunami.” The very phrase conjures up images of a huge tidal wave of people rushing to the bank to cash their pension checks!
The 20th century produced several laws that created the notion of a “Great Society.” FDR pushed through Social Security to protect the elderly from poverty. LBJ pushed through Medicare to keep the elderly healthy. Both programs, called entitlements, seemed like a great idea when people barely lived past 70 years old. No problem paying for such a short period called the “golden years.” Alas, times have changed.
George Burns commented that he was hoping to make it to 100. He reasoned that not many people die after 100.
Joe DiMaggio, the great baseball player, retired from the game in 1952, the same year I was born. As long as he lived, DiMaggio never worked in my life (except for a stint as “Mr. Coffee”). I suspect that many people will live long after 70, meaning that their children will be near retirement before their parents die. I guess it is conceivable that there may be a time when there will be more retired people than people working or in school. It may even end up that there will only be two types of people: retired and those in school.
Like most people in their fifties, I am looking forward to retiring when I’m 80. That way, I may not have to stand in line so long!

3. A TV Recommendation

I like TV, especially sports. But I also know that a person who watches more than 35 hours of TV per week makes 50 percent less income per year than those who watch less than 35 hours of TV per week. Here’s a tip, tape (yes, I’m old fashioned) your favorite shows and watch them later. You skip through the commercials and other stuff and see your program the way it should be watched uninterrupted (almost).
Here’s a show I recommend you tape: the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. This guy is really funny and in my opinion has the best monologue on TV. Plus, he does a credible job with his interviews. So, “sit back and take a load off” with TV’s Craig Ferguson. You’ll like it. And besides, anyone who works that hard that late at night needs you to tune in at least once a week!

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

TIME TO STAY WELL?

Wellness Model Superior to Medical Model

Recently, a report in USA Today stated that adults in Canada are healthier than adults in the US. The study was conducted by the Harvard Medical School. For example, US adults are 42 percent more likely than Canadian adults to have diabetes and 32 percent more likely to have high blood pressure.
American politicians and medical organizations insist that Canada’s medical system is inferior to the US and not a potential solution for universal health care in America. The reason why Canada’s system is working and the US is reeling with more debt and less coverage, is their commitment to a wellness model versus the US’s love affair with a medical model.
There’s not much glamour in educating people to take better care of themselves by eating less and by exercising more. Instead the US would rather boast about the frequency of expensive open heart surgeries and heart catherizations as “expected for someone in your age group.” The more elaborate the procedure the more glamorous. Have you heard how open heart patients brag about the “number” (bypass grafts) or how fast their healing time? It’s a badge of courage, even among women.
To scare the American public, medical and political leaders point to Canada’s wait list for open heart surgeries. Aren’t you glad you don’t live where you have to wait and possibly die before you get much needed surgery? There’s nothing scarier than telling people they could die before they get proper health care!
The US medical profession has an outstanding reputation for providing remarkable medical outcomes and breakthroughs. Somehow there must be a balance between encouraging excellence and still be able to provide healthcare to millions of uninsured and under-insured families. One approach to keep people healthier longer is teaching them to be responsible for their health. This doesn’t mean that they ignore good medical practices; if anything people embrace them. Limiting access to medical care encourages people to self-medicate and wait too long before seeking medical advice. Lack of access creates the vicious cycle of more expensive medical care to make up the deficit.
For example, regular check ups combined with known public health practices such as vaccinations and removing standing water from around their home will help ward off unnecessary illnesses. Wiser eating habits, proper exercise regimens and eliminating known risks such as alcohol abuse, smoking or drug abuse (even prescription drug abuse) will address a multitude of health concerns without spending a great deal of money. Let’s face it, obese kids will become obese adults and as they age their medical needs will increase.
Chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders that are environmentally linked are better treated on an on-going basis rather than through emergency room treatments. Emergency rooms are expensive options and the care offered may not add continuity to treating a chronic problem. It is a “single shot” approach and the goal is to get the person out of the ER not to teach them about better health. But for the under/uninsured, the ER may be the only medical service they can use as private practitioners rarely add uninsured patients and their families to their practice.
America needs a medical “Peace Corps” that will provide basic health care and education to millions of needy people. The graduates of this program will not be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt when they graduate (forcing them to seek partnerships in urban and higher paid practices). They will have their education financed by “goodwill” donations that will enable hundreds of people to enter the curriculum and later provide primary care in all neighborhoods.
Like most social issues and problems, we must get by the problem of “greed.” There are sufficient resources in the US to address health care (and education) needs. The real problem: who will make outlandish sums of money and who will get wealthy on the needs of others?

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

2% SOLUTION?

High School Diploma Not Necessary

This year, around 25 percent of high school seniors will not get their high school diploma. The reasons are many: they may have failed to complete a course or assignment required in the curriculum; they may have failed a course such as health education; they may have missed a large portion of the school year due pregnancy; they may have been part of a disciplinary action; or they dropped out. According to the US Department of Education, about 40 percent of male students will not get a high school diploma.
To label these students over a lifetime as a failure is not right. Maturity can strike at any time. For some, it can be in the early teen years for others, it may not be until their twenties. Currently our educational system is too rigid to accommodate these natural occurrences. You are done at 18 years old; either you have a high school diploma or you don’t. If you fail to get a diploma, you become the problem of state government and their solution is earning a GED or living in poverty.
That’s why I think it was refreshing to hear that some community colleges are giving high school dropouts a second chance. They are accepting them into the college environment to continue their education. These students are at least 21 years old and have a renewed sense of urgency and dedication to learning. The US Department of Education estimates that about 2 percent of the college population now consists of persons without a high school diploma. (This number does not include home school enrollments.)
I’m sure purists would find it absurd that adults can go to college without a high school diploma. Certainly I am not suggesting that this become the new standard. High school graduates are having a hard time trying to get through college and they are supposedly prepared for higher education.
I believe as a country we should grant people a chance to enter higher education when they are ready. What better way to prepare for the rigors of college than menial work? Why should we condemn people to life of poverty because they weren’t ready at 18? At least with a combined high school and college diploma they can find work to keep them above the financial line of poverty.
Colleges are not going to make it easy on these “special” students. There’s too much pressure on them to not take this course of action. But, if these students apply themselves and earn higher education credits, why not usher them in to the fold of success?
No one can predict when the proverbial light bulb will go on. Maturity is an elusive concept. But when the person is ready, there should be outlets to reward the changes in attitude. There’s no statue of limitations on learning.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE

ONE MILLION NURSES?

Who’ll Take Care of Me?

Recently in the news it was stated that the US will need one million additional nurses to meet the demands of the future. The immediate discussions that followed stated that university and college based nursing education programs were understaffed due to “low wages.” In other words, higher education was not prepared to respond to the vacancy demands.
A second idea was that America will “import” nurses from foreign countries, especially the Philippines, to offset the need. Foreign trained nurses would need to pass a standardized RN test and speak English to qualify. Unfortunately, this solution will create shortages in those countries when nurses leave for the US. A nurse may be the only healthcare available to a large number of people in poor, rural areas.
Looking at the university training issue, nursing students are much like the general population of college students meaning that less than 50 percent will graduate. Given the challenge of a nursing curriculum, many more students probably transfer to another discipline in order to stay in school.
Second, students that can muster through a tough nursing curriculum may go on for master’s degrees or move to other options that have higher wages, such as nurse practitioners or nurse anesthetists. Others go into business, schools or take faculty jobs.
The other variable that will be a factor is funding to pay for one million nurses. In a recent USA Today headline, Medicare debt accounts for every American household “contributing” nearly $250 thousand. That amount funds today’s medical needs not the future. Currently the national Medicare costs are $4.5 trillion and future costs are set to “soar.” It will be difficult for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to afford to fill all their vacancies.
Beyond the potential funding issues, the problem is the control of nursing education by universities and colleges. Needed are nurse assistants, licensed practical nurses and non-degree nurses to fill the vacancies. These are 1-2 year programs and accessible to a larger number of students. Universities are offering too much training for the everyday needs in a hospital. A person doesn’t need 5 years of higher education to perform daily living activities required by hospital patients.
For over 100 years, most large hospitals funded their own nurse training programs. Graduates who passed the license exam were hired by the hospital to fill vacancies; others went to other facilities. Today, these schools have been closed and students must now attend a college, university or career school. This limits the number of students that can attend due to class size, tuition and proximity to the school.
There is no simple answer and more money won’t solve the problem. Colleges and universities may have created the shortage but they won’t be the answer. Further, hospitals don’t have the human or financial resources to operate schools and create graduates to fill their vacancies.
Maybe communities need to train family members to take care of their older relatives. Helping people with everyday living activities won’t take much training. It may be an unpleasant thought that a person would take care of mom or dad, but it may be the practical answer.
Like so many of America’s social concerns and issues, communities are the answer. Expecting someone else to address the needs of our families just isn’t practical. We need to take responsibility.

GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE