Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's World

By Ed Short

Even with our commendable improvement in test scores, there is still room for improvement in education. I know of a school district that has a vision statement: "Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's World.", this is a summation of what WE are ALL about!

Even with our commendable improvement in test scores, there is still room for improvement in education. I know of a school district that has a vision statement: "Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's World.", this is a summation of what WE are ALL about!

It took radio 34 years to reach 50 million listeners; TV 14 years to reach 50 million viewers; and the Internet 4 years to reach 50 Million users. Today's World is fast changing. What about Tomorrow's World? What new technologies will Tomorrow's World bring? What will their acquisition rates be? 2 years? 1 year? 6 months? Tomorrow's world is going to be even faster changing than today's world.

Yes, we live in a fast changing world, AND we also live in a world where it is epidemic to make statements instead of asking questions. We are too judgmental, opinionated, and, yes, even egotistical which makes us slow to ask questions and far too fast to express our opinions, even if it's on a subject we know little or nothing about! We tend to accept instant impressions as reality, to be assumption and perception driven; and when our perception is limited, we tend toward false pride, impetuosity, and even, prejudice. In today's world it really takes courage to be inquisitive and become an asker of questions!

With this in mind, return with me to our monumental task: "preparing today's students for tomorrow's world ". Let's start with three "givens": 1) today's world is fast changing, 2) tomorrow's world will be even faster changing, and 3) institutions are slow to change. Now, let's ask ourselves some provocative questions. How can Public Education, inherently slow to change itself, possibly prepare our students to cope with the fast changing world of tomorrow? How do we establish reliable funding sources? How do we make the curriculum relevant to tomorrow's world? And, then, more importantly, how do we help the students see and understand the relevancy? Many ask: How do we raise the test scores? Perhaps, we should ask: Are the test scores and the testing program itself really that important? Are they really relevant to tomorrow's world?

I know that I don't know the answers or solutions to these questions and challenges and I don't believe that any single person could possibly be so knowledgeable. I do believe that together we can form a flexible, committed and persistent governance team dedicated to finding the answers and solutions. Vote for me to be re-elected and I promise to be an asker of questions, a seeker of solutions, and a flexible, committed, and persistent team player dedicated to providing the best, possible education that truly will prepare our kids for tomorrow's world.