[SATLUG] Debunking the Myth of a Desperate Software Labor Shortage

[Hector Bojorquez]

Yup.. ultimately I do believe that we should make college the new high
school diploma.
About 100 years ago, it was believed that an elementary school education was
not needed for everyone..and it soon became clear that an elementary school
education was the bare minimum.
To be leaders in the global marketplace of technology and ideas (not the
marketplace of production) we have to redefine our expectations.
Why can't we say---
A college degree is the new high school diploma..
Real mathematical literacy is the the new literacy...

I completely understand what you mean about helping students who have
talents in other less technological fields succeed there....
but we would never expect those same students not to read or perform simple
calculations.

The problem is that those expectations... sufficed in the past... not now...
not in a global marketplace that constantly ships jobs out...
We need higher expectations of everyone.. not just those that are
immediately apt at math .

Your wife is right....Texas does a better job than other places... WAAAY
better....


On 8/28/07, Gabriel Doss <gabriel.doss at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 8/28/07, Geoff <geoff at w5omr.shacknet.nu> wrote:
> >
> > Hector Bojorquez wrote:
> > > Amazing how y'all tracked down my pearls of wisdom...
> > >
> >
> > pardon me, while I puke on your feet...
>
>
> Seriously? You decide to go back two days and say that in what has become
> and interesting and lively discussion on education in the U.S. and how it
> affects future job growth in fields that demand a high level of education?
> That is really disappointing.
>
> Back on topic, we seem to want everyone in this country to succeed as we
> perceive success is. Currently college is the pre-determined mindset for
> most of Americans--whether it should be or not.
>
> What I mean by that is teenagers who show an aptitude and desire for
> mechanical skills should be provided that as a track. Why make college
> seem
> like the desired goal for someone who would be better elsewhere?
>
> We also hold those back who are striving to succeed. My wife went to her
> early years of high school in Texas. She said it was an amazing experience
> and she learned a tremendous amount and was constantly engaged. Granted,
> she
> was in the GT program. I do not know what the standard high school
> experience is like in Texas. After her sophomore year she moved to Las
> Vegas. According to her it was at least two years behind Texas GT programs
> and had no GT program at all. She was bored, frustrated and couldn't do
> anything about it--except private and her parents weren't supportive of
> that. Charter schools had not popped up yet like they are today so there
> is
> at least some progress there.
>
> At least at that time, Texas seems to have had a much better grasp on the
> needs of engaging and educating teenagers. My child is two, so it is a
> long
> time before I find out if that is still the case.
>
> We know some states are way behind others.We could argue this is a states'
> rights issue and say the states are responsible for education. Or we could
> understand this is affecting us all regardless of where a child goes to
> school. Funny thing that happens after high school--people move. Around
> the
> country we are impacted by the poor education choices of states we have
> never lived in.
>
> I personally think more schools are needed that vary greatly on what
> subjects and skills they teach. If someone loves computers, geek them up.
> They could be programming by the time they get out of high school. If they
> like fixing cars, great. Have them trained in more than the basics before
> they move on to a trade school or get an apprenticeship.
>
> I know some school districts offer these choices, but they should be
> widespread choices pushed for and funded by a combination of local, state
> and federal monies.
>
> I believe otherwise we will continue to slip.
> --
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