Monday, November 5, 2012

Barack Obama Closing School as Education in the US is Self

It doesn't take an engineer of the private space industry to figure out that we have a problem with education in the US and whereas, it isn't as bad as folks claim, it's also not as good as it could be either. So, rather than condemning our schools, laying off teachers, and closing some perhaps we need to re-think our schools going forward in the age of instant information. Is the Obama Administration doing that? Well, they are trying, I can agree with that.
For instance they have established a research arm for education modeled after DARPA Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, and why not, it's worked for the Intelligence Agencies with IARPA and for the DOE with ARPA-E ("E" for energy), so there is no doubt it will work too to assist in education. Still, we need to expedite these new technologies if we are to save our schools, otherwise they will fall behind the needs of this future generation of leaders. After all, a nation is only as strong as it's schools were 20-years the prior right? I think we can all agree with that as well.
Not long ago, an acquaintance mentioned to me after reading an article in "Yahoo! News" titled "Barack H. Obama Elementary to close" and she stated who knows; "Maybe this is a good sign of the future of the anointed one. Close the school named after him and closes his chances of impressing anyone in the future with his political nothingness." As we discussed the irony of this situation, she lamented that although this is surely a coincidence it is also a foreshadowing of things to come with President Obama's legacy, chances for re-election, and promises for hope and change.
Indeed, I thought about the closing of this school, and the many others around our nations, perhaps for budget cuts, or due to lack of performance, and I thought, yes, we have problems and challenges in education. And yes, this particular school closing, well, it's part of a major round of budget cuts, but you have to admit it is a nice piece for the news, due to the fact it is rather ironic, as Barak H. Obama has been so adamant about the need for education and his fever in devising a plan to fix it, using the (purported) greatest minds in academia to devise a plan.
In fact, I thanked my acquaintance for sending me this news, and our follow-up dialogues and said; "I think I'll do an article on this. Thanks," which led me to write this piece. Still, it's all part of a much bigger picture isn't it? Sure it is, we have a terrible problem with education in this country and nothing really seems to be working - and I think everyone knows it too. Yes, this is a controversial topic, but it is one we discuss rather often at our think tank. So, sound off with any comments, questions, and or concerns you might have in this venue. Think on it.