that's because the controllers are boomers... they remember rebellion... and they know how to control it. BUT. the non compliant ones are opting out of higher ed ... prolly marriage too. so who are the compliant ones going to find mates with...

besides... edumacation in asia is ALL about compliance. we are certainly not at that level .. it's a curious worry.

To put myself at odds with Charlie Rangel, I don't think college should be free. In fact, I think free education should stop at eighth grade.

Give people the very basics. Enough math to balance their checkbooks, do taxes and figure out the square footage of their homes. Enough history and social studies to be responsible voters. And perhaps enough computer skills to access useful information.

Then, after that, those are inclined to learn more can do so. Those that simply want to learn their trades and start working should stop school right there and go do that.

Those that want to go into scientific fields that require advance learning should pursue it. I just don't see the point in making someone who wants to be a plumber slog through elementary functions and calculus.

Schools often don't practice what they preach. When I got my EdM, the philosophy they taught was that teaching through lectures is ineffecient, hands-on activities and group projects are better.

Guess what format they gave us this info in? That's right! Lectures!

I'm going to disagree with you Patrick. I think that college should be free, but fiercely competitive. Not for the masses.

The problem with stopping at 8th grade is have you ever met an 8th grader who wants to be a plumber? I've met lots of people who finally got it together the last couple years of High School.

By colleges I mean state schools. Private schools should be able to accept whomever and charge whatever they want.

If you think our education system is compliant try working corporate.

NicoleK: I'm going to disagree with you Patrick.

And that's fine, Nicole. It doesn't make you a horrible person to disagree with me. I'm sure you're a very nice person. Wrong, of course, as is anyone who disagrees with me, but very nice.

Kidding aside, I like your suggestion of colleges being free but competitive. In any case, it's certainly not for everyone, which I think we both recognize.

Regarding eighth graders who want to be plumbers, actually yes, I have met a couple. But on the other hand, I think by eighth grade we can know who wants to do manual labor, as opposed to who wants to work in a laboratory. It might be that those so inclined could go to schools that focus more on the industrial arts like carpentry, heating, plumbing, etc., as opposed to those who want to go into the more scientific fields.

The richest kid from my old high school is the guy that took over his Dad's garbage truck business. He was a shop major and didn't seem to be college material like his older brother.
He led the company into recycling and added a confidential paper shredding division. The company is now a major player.
Not even sure what happened with the brother who went to college...

I just have a problem taking advice or considering a valid statement from someone that includes this in their article:

Many of America’s greatest activists including Saul Alinsky (1909–1972), the legendary organizer and author of Reveille for Radicals and Rules for Radicals, would today certainly be diagnosed with ODD and other disruptive disorders.

If you look at Saul Alinsky's history it has little to admire. That isn't the only point that he shows he is a total progressive. He may have some valid points, but when you use phrases like class war and corporatocracy he is living in a world I can't respect.

Jim, it was written by a guy from, and reprinted from, alternet. What did you expect?

Give people the very basics. Enough math to balance their checkbooks, do taxes and figure out the square footage of their homes.

There are plenty who've graduated from college that still can't do these simple things. If we were to change the system to one that teaches basics, they better actually get that right first. If schools didn't care so much about self-esteem and feelings and were instead honest with kids, they'd probably be doing a lot better.

"I think that college should be free, but fiercely competitive."

Ah. "Free". As in, "Someone else pays for my college!".

Gee. That's new.

Lemme know how your health care package is looking.