Mr. Gates Goes To Washington

And when he gets there he decides that what we really need is more H-1B visa recipients, to keep the pace of innovation going at Microsoft.

While it is true that we are turning out idiots at an incredible pace, bringing more aliens to take the jobs is hardly a long term solution. What is needed is a change in the education system, as all changes made in the last twenty or so years seem to be in the wrong direction. The total accumulated knowledge is estimated to double each ten years, yet the average high school graduate  does not seem to know what continent the city of London is considered part of. Many are unable to realize that Paris is a city and not a country. A few weeks ago it was pointed out in a public television program that only 23% of recent college graduates could find the country that this country is involved in a war with on a globe (standard globe, standard markings) Teachers are complaining that they are not getting help from the parents, whereas when I went to school, the parents were only responsible for providing proper motivation, a good breakfast, and transportation to and from the school building. Teachers today work approximately two-thirds the time (or less) of an average worker in any other profession, yet become indignant when reminded of it, and are always complaining about their salaries. Clearly, we aren’t going to get any help from teachers.

Perhaps what is needed is for Mr. Gates to break loose with much more of that fortune he tries to convince us that he is trying valiantly to give away, and come up with scholarships for those students who wish to continue in the math and science fields. These should be advertised early - as to elementary students.  If students knew early on how expensive higher education is, and the rate at which it continues to rocket upward in price, they just might - by the time they reached high school - have a clue about how nice it would be to have their college paid for when they arrive.

There are entirely too many stupid people out there now, and so using any sort of tough love methods will not work. The tragically uninformed will have to take up all those ‘jobs’ that the Bush Administration and NAFTA have opened up at exciting places like McDonald’s and Wendy’s.

At least a change for the future will make the next generation a bit more able to cope in the world of tomorrow.

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[tags] H-1B visa, Bill Gates, Microsoft, scholarships, educational change [/tags]