More March Madness

Follow-Up

In the last blog, the issue was using college athletes for profit without any obligations to these students. In the current issue of Time magazine, this point is driven to the basket.

Only one (1) university of the top four (4) seeds will graduate more than 50 percent of its players. According to Time, the programs at Kansas, UCLA and Memphis are below 46 percent. The payoff? The projected TV ad sales for the tourney will be $545 million.

There are new plantation owners in the US and they are called university presidents.

8 and Out

It’s time for the US to adopt the industrialized world’s approach to education and end mandatory schooling at the 8^th grade. By then students will have had 10 years of formal education and the basics of reading, writing and math should be deep-seated. If not, another 4 years won’t make a difference as the majority of high school graduates are only competent at an 8^th grade level as measured by standardized tests.

So what are the options? First, students with the aptitude and desire can enroll in private schools that will prepare them for an academic future and attendance in higher education. Parents, now paying yearly tuitions, will demand results from the school and place the appropriate expectations on their son or daughter. The learning environment will be enhanced by a clear focus, smaller class sizes and fewer disruptions.

Second, students who are creative (arts, music) or industrial can enroll in schools that will build on those strengths. In addition to traditional vocational programs, other offerings would include marketing and design, entrepreneurialism, small business skills and virtual skills such as call center specialists.

The third and final option is military service. While it is unlikely that any pre-18 year old will serve in a war zone, these students will learn the basics of soldiering including physical fitness. These military schools will be supported via tax dollars and students will serve a mandatory 5 years beyond the 4 years of “high school.” Every student will earn the equivalent of an academic or industrial high school degree that will allow them to compete in the non-military world. As an added bonus, any honorably discharged veteran with an academic degree can attend a college or university at no additional expense for up to 160 credits.

Finally, the US Congress can dissolve the US Department of Education as the past 50 years of programs and laws that provided billions of tax dollars have failed. The agency is just too out-of-touch to respond in a timely manner to the needs of business, industry or the country.

Standardization of education through the 8^th grade is a state function. Privatization of “high school” will have standards that will exceed those currently in place. The military option will have national standards as set by the oversight committee of the US Armed Forces.

It’s time for the US to make education competitive by eliminating the antiquated thought that every child has the right for 12 years of education. Actually, some children should be “left behind” for the good of those who can excel.

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