Anyone who is online in business today should watch this video. Actually, anyone in business should watch it. (Reconsidering….) Actually, ANYONE should watch this.
From Christopher Penn via C.C. Chapman’s Twitter shout about it.
Ann Handley BIO
10.18.07
Ann,
Usually the first thing I look for on a video is the number indicating its length. And if it is more that 1:00, I move on, as time is too valuable. But because you recommended this so strongly, I clicked play. And watched the entire 8 minutes plus. Well worth it.
For change to happen in education, a citizen firestorm is necessary. Educators, like most, hate change and will resist it. Schools tend to be reactionary. We need to light that firestorm in every school district.
Most excellent. I’m glad I followed your action point to watch it.
Question: did it mention that we currently have 30%…30%!…of US kids dropping-out of high school?
I might have missed that as I was looking for it but it’s a sobering figure that I’m still trying to wrap my head around (remember the cover article in Time from 2 years ago?). And other reports place graduation levels as low as 65%.
I often wonder why this isn’t discussed more by politicians (granted the economy is important…but with these stats, the U.S. is looking at a pretty dumb economy pretty soon with other countries having their grad numbers soar).
Thank you so much for pointing out this video. Like Lewis, I wouldn’t have sat through 8 minutes if you hadn’t recommended it so strongly.
I do know that even in gifted student programs in elementary schools they are not preparing kids for real world jobs.
So the question becomes, what can we communicators do to help create change?
Do we start volunteering to speak in schools? Start running campaigns that involve learning for kids? ???
That’s what I’m hoping we can wrap our heads around.
What thinkest thou?
BL,
Every community needs an activist leader/grassroots organizer to address this issue. I think what we can do is what Ann did: get the word out! The question always comes down to this: Who has the time, the willingness and the passion to do the work necessary? To be honest, I’m not sure I do. Having been an activist and a grassroots organizer, to make enough noise requires someone willing to take this on nearly full-time in every school district in America.
Lewis: I hear you on time. So here’s how you solve that. First, through pressing gov’t (at the state/federal/regional level) to appropriate more funds.
But second, and something I’m doing with one of my clients in biotech (cuz students are failing math + science miserably!), is getting several corporations to let some of their brains visit schools once a quarter (so they take a half-day off once a quarter) to get kids excited about those areas…and show those kids what that work results in–in this case cures for diseases and breakthroughs. They “see” the result of the professional. In making it so it’s not a big time investment…and in making the case to the orgs that other companies are doing it (makes them get on board)…it gives a way for people to give back and be part of the solution. If enough industries start doing this, then we might be able to see some real change. Worth a try but, you’re right, it must be tenable in regards to time. I’ll let you know how it goes, it’s a long-term effort that’s just getting started. But it’s a start.
I’m absolutely willing to take a half-day off every quarter (at least) to help effect this kind of change.
I am going to investigate how to do this locally.
CK,
Great advice. I do some of that regarding writing and getting kids excited about the art. But I also sit on the local Chamber’s education committee and can use that as a vehicle.
For anyone who wants to follow Ann’s lead and answer BL’s question, it’s as simple as this:
Get Pissed America. These Kids are Our Future
http://lgbusinesssolutions.typepad.com/solutions_to_grow_your_bu/2007/10/get-pissed-amer.html
hi ann:
wow.
thanks so much for sharing this “devastating and liberating” video. i am thrilled to see this video informing people about an issue that is a key concern of mine. it has been under the radar for way too long.
also, thanks to B.L, Lewis and CK for broaching the discussion on how to raise awareness and promote action. i think discussing it here, on our blogs and in our circles of influence is a great start.
hi ann:
wow.
thanks so much for sharing this “devastating and liberating” video. i am thrilled to see this video informing people about an issue that is a key concern of mine. it has been under the radar for way too long.
also, thanks to B.L, Lewis and CK for broaching the discussion on how to raise awareness and promote action. i think discussing it here, on our blogs and in our circles of influence is a great start.
Lewis, you’re perfect for this as you’d get kids so excited.
.
All: Think about junior high and high school…I know, I too have to remember way back! But think about how your teachers would say “one day this will be important!”
“Um, yeah teach” was our thinking. See, “one day” to a 12 year old or a 16 year-old is far, far too nebulous and far too in the future.
But, when a professional–a tangible example–is right in front of you it changes one day that’s far away to “oh, maybe I really do need this stuff.”
True story: at year’s beginning I was writing a very long piece of thought leadership and needed a good metaphor (otherwise the read would have been so dry I would have gone completely batty). So I used the natural and universal laws. I had to find some textbooks so I could refresh on Einstein, Newton, Galileo, Darwin, Ridley etc., as I’m not science savvy. I say this because all those science teachers I laughed at that told me “One day this would be relevant” are due a BIG “you were right, after all!” letter from me. Now if only I could remember my professor’s names
Thanks for the comments, all. I groaned slightly when I saw the length, too… but was glad I sat through it all the way.
Had to turn down the music, though. It reminded me of the soundtrack to a documentary at the Science Museum.
As a former educator, I think we’ve always wrestled with the problem of societal change. It just happens quicker now.
We need to encourage students to stay in school; pay teachers a wage that is aligned with the heavy responsibility they bear; and offer programs for those who want to return to school.
When I was in elementary school, we didn’t have computers, color TV or video. And now, I use these tools with ease. Perhaps it means that learning is lifelong and not just restricted to formal education.
Education is like buying a car. It depreciates the minute we get a diploma. So, we must focus on staying on top of technology and change, offering educational and training opportunities for everyone, and trying to stay ahead. In nature, species that can adapt, survive.
Ann…thanks for this. Very thought-provoking. I have been frustrated with our educational system for quite some time. My daughter was accused of plagiarism by a teacher because she used a Microsoft Word template on the computer to create a very well written newspaper. Her teacher was unaware of such things as templates.
My youngest son has been on a personal computer since he was three years old…he no longer tries to discuss computing with any teacher…even in computer-related classes…they are hopelessly clueless.
Now that we know the problem…what is the solution???
By the way, we moved to the community that we live in because of its reputation for the quality of its schools. With four kids, that was important to us.
Thank you Ann. This video presents some of the symptoms of the rise and fall of our great empire. I used to tease a demographer friend of mine that we were going to end up like the French. Arrogant, entitled and unemployed.
Embrace China. Embrace India. They are certainly going to embrace you. Or hide in your vineyards and enjoy the memories of a greater time. Tip – There is really no wrong decision here, only choices.
Great video and certainly needed. Our school are shameless today. What other industry still bases it’s calendar on 60 year old activities. Students don’t need summer breaks to help with the harvest any more so why is that still a 3 month vacation in many areas. Urban areas have one administration for all the schools in the city, but rural areas still have a complete administration for each little town. Why are these not grouped by ISD or county?
Oh, we are trying to get these ‘educators’ to teach our kids to think…I think not!
Education in the United States is a serious concern for all of us. Teachers need our help and our support! Schools are often silos that do not have the regular support of their community and business leaders. I have shared this video with my team to create viral effect! Change is difficult, but “shift” is happening everywhere!
I was a teachers assistant for three years, and much of my marketing has been in the youth through college category. I’m afraid it’s too late to effect the paradigm shift suggested by some of these comments. Entrenched, lazy, tenured and ineffective educators protected by powerful lobbies, monstrous pension funds and unions. Ask the Chinese how they dealt with this problem during the purges.
This is Amazing!