Bill Gates Speech to National Education Summit: "I am terrified for our workforce of tomorrow."

GatesFoundation.org ^ | 2/26/05 | Bill Gates

[baseball_fan]

...America’s high schools are obsolete.

By obsolete, I don’t just mean that our high schools are broken, flawed, and under-funded…

By obsolete, I mean that our high schools – even when they’re working exactly as designed – cannot teach our kids what they need to know today.

…

Today, only one-third of our students graduate from high school ready for college, work, and citizenship.

The other two-thirds…are tracked into courses that won’t ever get them ready for college or prepare them for a family-wage job – no matter how well the students learn or the teachers teach.

This isn’t an accident or a flaw in the system; it is the system.

…

When I compare our high schools to what I see when I’m traveling abroad, I am terrified for our workforce of tomorrow. In math and science …

By 12th grade, U.S. students are scoring near the bottom of all industrialized nations.

… the U.S. college dropout rate is also one of the highest in the industrialized world. …

… In 2001, India graduated almost a million more students from college than the United States did. China graduates twice as many students with bachelor’s degrees as the U.S., and they have six times as many...in engineering.

…

… The key problem is political will. Elected officials have not yet done away with the idea underlying the old design. The idea behind the old design was that you could train an adequate workforce by sending only a third of your kids to college – and that the other kids either couldn’t do college work or didn’t need to. The idea behind the new design is that all students can do rigorous work, and – for their sake and ours – they have to.

...

[GOPJ]

A third? No way. That number's way to high.

Today, only one-third of our students graduate from high school ready for college, work, and citizenship.

[w6ai5q37b]

In the old days schools in this country not only taught "readin' ritin' & 'rithmatic" but moreover morality, and founding principles of our nation, so that students would turn out to be good stewards of their country.

Schools nowadays hardly teach anything about what made this country great, or morality, but mostly environmental hysteria, socialist propaganda, and how to be good "citizens of the world."

[Siegfried]

There are so many classes I took that had and have no use whatsoever.

It is my considered opinion that I have never, ever, learned anything, during my entire lifetime, from a teacher. I learned everything I know from either personal experience, or from reading books.

IMO schools could be staffed with proctors who simply assigned reading and oversaw tests on that material, without any loss of educational effect.

[armymarinemom]

He can't see the Forrest for the trees. He does give large amounts of money for public education but doesn't notice that the money is as good as flushed down the toilet. He blames our government instead of noticing that the Union is the biggest obstacle for education. If the NEA spent near the time on getting back the basics of education than it does on identifying key words for potential Ritalin subjects our schools would be top notch.

A good example of what is wrong with our shool system was a key phrase that a teachers husband dropped on my husband during a casual conversation. My husband asked him just what a teacher is supposed to do? His answer. Teachers are supposed to mold students.

[Goodgirlinred]

His whole point was that the system needed to be redesigned. The present model was designed 50 years ago. He was not advocating dumping a lot of money into the project. Also, he was not advocating PC'ing anyone to death. He was stating a fact. All children should be educated rigorously.

[Once-Ler]

They are a Socialistic experiment that failed miserably.

Amen, and the "old schools" are being replaced by parents who care.

[politicket]

Resolutions passed at the 2003 Annual Conference of the NEA (National Education Association):

Does everyone agree with these?

B-69. Home Schooling. The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state requirements. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used. The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools.

C-15. Extremist Groups. The National Education Association condemns the philosophy and practices of extremist groups and urges active opposition to all such movements that are inimical to the ideals of the Association.

I-1. Peace and International Relations. The Association urges all nations to develop treaties and disarmament agreements that reduce the possibility of war. The Association also believes that such treaties and agreements should prevent the placement of weapons in outer space. The Association further believes that the United Nations (UN) furthers world peace and promotes the rights of all people by preventing war, racism, and genocide. The Association supports the U.S. Institute of Peace, which provides publications, information, programs, training, and research data in developing peacemaking and conflict resolution skills.

I-12. Family Planning. The National Education Association supports family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom. The Association also urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel.

I-47. English as the Official Language. The Association believes that efforts to legislate English as the official language disregard cultural pluralism; deprive those in need of education, social services, and employment; and must be challenged.

A-11. Use of Closed Public School Buildings. The Association believes that closed public school buildings should be sold or leased only to those organizations that do not provide direct educational services to students and/or are not in direct competition with public schools.

B-1. Early Childhood Education. The National Education Association supports early childhood education programs in the public schools for children from birth through age eight. The Association also supports a high-quality program of transition from home and/or preschool to the public kindergarten or first grade. This transition should include communication and cooperation among parents/guardians, the preschool staff, and the public school staff. The Association also believes that early childhood education programs should include a full continuum of services for parents/guardians and children, including child care, child development, developmentally appropriate and diversity-based curricula, special education, and appropriate bias-free screening devices. The Association believes that federal legislation should be enacted to assist in organizing the implementation of fully funded early childhood education programs offered through the public schools. These programs must be available to all children on an equal basis and should include mandatory kindergarten with compulsory attendance.

B-7. Diversity. The National Education Association believes that similarities and differences among races, ethnicity, color, national origin, language, geographic location, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, age, physical ability, size, occupation, and marital, parental, or economic status form the fabric of a society. The Association also believes that education should foster the values of appreciation and acceptance of the various qualities that pertain to people as individuals and as members of diverse populations. The Association further believes in the importance of observances, programs and curricula that accurately portray and recognize the roles, contributions, cultures, and history of these diverse groups and individuals.

B-9. Racism, Sexism, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination. Discrimination and stereotyping based on such factors as race, gender, immigration status, physical disabilities, ethnicity, occupation, and sexual orientation must be eliminated. Plans, activities, and programs must — Increase respect, understanding, acceptance, and sensitivity toward individuals and groups in a diverse society composed of such groups as American Indians/Alaska natives, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people, and people with disabilities. Eliminate discrimination and stereotyping in curricula, textbooks, resource and instructional materials, activities, etc. Foster the dissemination and use of nondiscriminatory and nonstereotypical language, resources, practices, and activities. Integrate an accurate portrayal of the roles and contributions of all groups throughout history across curricula, particularly groups who have been under-represented historically Eliminate subtle practices that favor the education of one student over another on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, physical disabilities, or sexual orientation Encourage all members of the educational community to examine assumptions and prejudices, including, but not limited to, racism, sexism, and homophobia, that might limit the opportunities and growth of students and education employees Offer positive and diverse role models in our society including the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of diverse education employees in our public schools Coordinate with organizations and concerned agencies that promote the contributions, heritage, culture, history, and special health and care needs of diverse population groups Promote a safe and inclusive environment for all.

[Once-Ler]

Of course what does Bill Gates know about momopolies.........I mean does he know they are bad?

Monopolies are not bad. Government enforced and supported monopolies are bad. Microsoft has done more to advance the distribution of information than our entire public school system.

[CL2850]

Two words: Vouch.......ers......

Polar Opposite Politics

[ArmyTeach]

Our high schools today are not even as good as the high schools of 50 years ago. I know. I was there. Well, 40 years ago. Whaddaya think? Maybe there's an agenda running which does not include educating American children to succeed in the world of the future and to be leaders in it. Maybe?

[Binghamton_native]

It should not the job of our schools to provide properly trained cogs for Microsoft and other businesses. It should be the job of education to teach students how to think. A number of years ago I read a paper written by a member of the Ohio board of education which made the fascinating point that the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century allied business, the state and education.

[goodnesswins]

"By obsolete, I don’t just mean that our high schools are broken, flawed, and under-funded…"

He did say "rigorous"......unfortunately, anything RIGOROUS will have to be done OUTSIDE of a government bureaucracy....our schools are SOCIALISTIC and cannot be fixed. If he had made a case for vouchers or homeschooling I would have more hope, but I doubt that Gates will buck the politicians and teachers unions. But, I COULD be WRONG.

[Richard Kimball]

I agree with you. Washington DC spends over $10,000 per student. Check out this sign from a couple of years ago.

Yes, it's a real sign, and yes, it made it through the school administration and was approved for placement on school buses. You can't give people more money than they'll steal or waste.

[baseball_fan]

There may be a cultural element too: a "reverence" for learning.

At one time everyone was taught to read so they could read the Bible and be saved. That conection seems to be weakened. Many cultures such as that of China and India have a strong "reverence" for learning which motivates them to go above and beyond. I think we will have to recapture that in some way to keep pace.

[politicket]

ROFLOL!! That sign is classic!

I always find it interesting when I talk to the parents of public school children. It does not matter what city, country, or state they live in, they ALWAYS will tell me that their school is the good one. It is truly sad to see that amount of denial...

[baseball_fan]

"Our high schools today are not even as good as the high schools of 50 years ago. I know. I was there. Well, 40 years ago. Whaddaya think? Maybe there's an agenda running which does not include educating American children to succeed in the world of the future and to be leaders in it. Maybe?"

posted a reply before seeing yours... see post 54... may be related

[s_asher]

Considering how much time kids spend on video games these days, I think getting rid of PE is a bad idea. As matter of fact I think we should increase PE requirements to all 4 years of high school. That way when they graduate and go join the armed forces, our drill sergents won't have to deal with blobs of fat.

I also think that we should bring back to draft, but realistically I think anyone who advocates draft won't be elected.

[Kozak]

In 2001, India graduated almost a million more students from college than the United States did. China graduates twice as many students with bachelor’s degrees as the U.S., and they have six times as many...in engineering.

Uh India has 3 times our population, and China 4 times as many. That may have something to do with it. /sarcasm

[jwalsh07]

LOL, I was wondering if anybody would point that out.

[Goodgirlinred]

Well, not all teachers belong to unions. My daughter is a teacher and she does not belong to a union. As a matter of fact, she said the other day that she was sure that teachers would not mind not getting a raise if the money were put towards making classes smaller so that teachers could spend more time with each student and so that students who need special ed could get it.

Also, not all politicians are against good education. Here in Virginia we have some of the best state colleges in the country.