[oldbrowser]

If enough people read and ponder the implications of "Outliers," perhaps that can help begin the much needed process of turning around current counterproductive attitudes toward education and toward life.

They key is attitudes. Over Christmas I attended a large get together and had a conversation with a 13 year old boy. He was telling me how his older brother (16), had just dropped out of school to get a job.

I told him his brother, with no education, risked being stuck in a low wage job for the rest of his life.

His response, "Edumuckashun is only important if you are going on to college. Regular working class people learn their job skills at work or can go to night school if they start to move up in the company."

[jazusamo]

They key is attitudes.

I agree and more than likely the 13 year old you talked to is a reflection of his parents attitudes. I know that's not true in all cases but I believe it to be in the majority of them.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

had a conversation with a 13 year old boy. He was telling me how his older brother (16), had just dropped out of school to get a job.

My brother-in-law dropped out of tenth grade - but not to get a job but to go to work for his father's business. His father warned him, "you'll never wear a white shirt," and he agreed and still wanted to do it.

In his case that functioned as an incentive, much like emigrating to a different country does. He had an internal need to succeed - and so, he did.