There is a 54 minute documentary sponsored by a business man who compared 2 American, 2 Chinese, and 2 Indian high school students who were as equal as possible in all potential ways. The end result was a well put together piece to engage in the topic of how we run our schools and the various differences in priorities foisted on the respective children. The business owner is Bob Compton, a venture capitalist, who has worked with numerous individuals from all three cultures. The name of the documentary is “Two Million Minutes.”
The ABC article written on it tries to be fair with the video of the interview found here. The documentary itself did not attack any set group but set up a comparison for the purpose of generating discussion. The basic premise is we are in a global economy with many players going for a piece of the action. The high school students of today will be the business and industry leaders of tomorrow. In order to remain competitive, the USA needs to step it up.
Generally, I would agree with that premise. We do not have time to experiment with the latest curriculum concept because someone had to create research to justify their grants and a new idea to justify getting a doctorate. Also, we can focus on self-esteem and feelings all some want but the greater part of the world knows you need to suck it up and perform or go home and die. In many countries, there is no time for anxiety issues, depression, therapy sessions with counselors and shrinks. The only thing you have time for is to get to work, generate the money you need to survive or you starve to death.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) ended up responding to the documentary. The rebuttal to that is found here. However, anytime a group representing public education comes out making a statement, great care must be taken lest it serves to shoot them in the foot. Unfortunately, NASSP thought Two Million Minutes targeted their schools and took offense and was off base on a number of their statements. If an education based group is off base on their comments, it does not reflect well on the education they are providing. It was a neutral documentary.
When you read the comments section on the ABC article, you have a full range of opinions. Parents should be more involved in the education of their kids. The parents should be less involved in the education of their kids. Sports are necessary for leadership skills. Sports are not necessary. Socialization skills are more important. Hard science and math skills are more important. Treat all the kids fairly. Accelerate the best as they will be your future leaders. The schools are great and should be left to the “experts.” The schools are broken. The opinions vary extensively.
It all boils down to we need to have a dynamic enough education system to meet the demands of our students’ needs of functioning in a dynamic global economy. Top down structures are notoriously cumbersome and slow to change and rife with politics. The times are changing and our old system has to change with them. The time for politics is over. The time for performance is here. If the education system is broken, then the parents must step up for their children. It is past time to suck it up and perform or go home and wet your diaper.
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