I'm typing this in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming airport. Over the past five days I have had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a retreat with a group of corporate leaders from all over the globe (e.g., United States, Great Britain, Italy, Israel, Russia). We engaged in a number of recreational activities (e.g., fly-fishing, hiking, ATV riding, trips to Yellowstone). Most of us also facilitated a discussion session for the rest of the group (mine was on transitioning schools into the 21st century). As a result of this long weekend, I'm now on a first-name basis with CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, etc. from about fifteen different technology, media, and venture capital companies. Nearly all of these folks have a net worth in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. All of them are creative, talented, smart people: exemplars of the Creative Class.
So what did I learn from these corporate titans, these folks who have money, power, and political influence at levels that most of us can barely imagine?
- Their dissatisfaction with the public schools is extremely high;
- There was a widespread consensus in the group that the current system of how we do public schools cannot be fixed;
- As a result, all but one of them sends their children to private school;
- The only thing that can be done is to "blow up" the system and start anew; and
- Charter schools and private schools are popular options with these folks because they are perceived as mechanisms that retain the possibility for innovation, differentiation, and responsiveness to parent and student needs.
Of course this sample is small and may not reflect the views of corporate leaders generally, but I'm guessing that they're fairly consistent with their peers. And while much of this may be nothing new, hearing these people talk about public schools was nonetheless illuminating and dismaying.
We have big challenges ahead of us.
What is the challenge though? Is the challenge to convince people that public schools can be fixed and then to fix them? Or is the challenge to find a way to "blow up" the current system and start over? Or is it to find a middle ground?
Frankly it amazes me that there are still people who have taken an honest look at American public schools who believe that we can really fix them. Oh sure there are Band-Aid steps to be taken and there are always incremental fixes that can be make to improve what is basically a failed system. But real systemic fixing without pretty much starting from scratch? That is a tough one to believe.
Then of course the question becomes who will do the fixing? The education establishment got us to where we are today. The government continues to make things worse. NCLB has been a huge victim of unintended consequences so far. Schools of education are preparing teachers to use the last century's tools not this century's'. Far too many parents are content to use schools as babysitting services and the exempt themselves from responsibility for the success or failure of their children.
Where are the perceptions of these executives wrong? And if they are not wrong, and I believe they are not wrong, where do we go from here?
Posted by: Alfred Thompson | July 17, 2007 at 12:14 PM
So, Scott, what was your take on these folks' interpretation of the current educational system?
Posted by: Karen | July 17, 2007 at 12:18 PM
I'd say this is pretty accurate not only for corporate execs, but for parents across the board. It's just that these parents have economic options.
Parents (in my experience) want their children to have rich, deep learning experiences. But they are willing to settle for less because there seems to be no other way. They see "school" (and all that goes along with it) as a tried and true baseline experience that is simply a part of growing up. Part hazing ritual, part "eat your vegetables", part a long-shot bet on their child's future. Even if school didn't serve you well, there's always a chance it will work for your child (somebody's going to get into Harvard, right?), and really, no alternative available.
Posted by: sylvia martinez | July 17, 2007 at 12:19 PM
So are we supposed to be surprised? Most wealthy people send their kids to private schools - either because they went to them themselves or because they can now afford to send their kids.It is as much a "social" decision as it is an educational decision. No surprise there. Many people who have only attended private schools (myself included) have no real concept or understanding of the challenges public school face (I learned by working in one for 16 years). I find their opinions don't hold much weight. The larger question is, do they feel any responsibility towards the public school systems or do they feel they are doing "enough" by sitting on the boards of their son's and daughter's private schools. Do they feel a responsibility towards the masses.....or just their own?
Posted by: Jane | July 18, 2007 at 06:44 PM
So how many of these execs graduated from public school? There is a elitist attitude toward public schools from those who graduated from private schools. Perception is reality, I guess. When was the last time they stepped foot into a first class public school? Does the system need to be changed or the perception? Public schools have their issues, but they are not hopeless. Break the unions and maybe you have a good start. Hmmm...got me to thinking. Good post.
Posted by: Brandon Waggoner | July 21, 2007 at 07:18 PM
I agree with Jane... Did you question why they think private schools are doing a better job than public schools? I think a lot of this type of thinking comes down to elitist thinking and not reality.
Posted by: Scott Meech | July 22, 2007 at 09:25 AM
Yes. Their interactions with regular public schools have convinced them that they can't get their children's needs met there. They feel that private schools and charter schools are the ones with the capabilities to be innovative, to differentiate, and to be more responsive to parent and student needs.
Posted by: Scott McLeod | July 22, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Excellent post....not surprising, though. Having worked in both public and private settings, as well as having attended both public and private institutions of higher learning, I could always "feel" the difference between the social element of the private environment and that of the public one. What I mean is, the private environment exhibits more of an "upward mobility" mindset - networking for the future. The public side was not as deep - more focused on the "here and now." In many instances, but not all, equipment and need-meeting was more prevalent in the private sector. There is also more homogeneity in terms of student motivation and aspiration which needs to be factored in. In the public sector, we have legislated need-meeting; as with other legislated behaviors, I'm not quite sure it will be effectuated as well as if we voluntarily realized and accepted its importance.
Posted by: Angelo Rota | July 22, 2007 at 06:08 PM