Getting My MBA

So I’m in a class called Organization, Leadership, and Environment. We talked tonight about an article in Time magazine about How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century. We talked about the challenges we face as a nation in keeping our children competitive. We score relatively poorly on science and math test scores compared with other industrialized nations; 14th or 15th I think.

Part of the problem, in my admittedly somewhat uninformed opinion, is that there isn’t enough variety. Until High School everyone basically learns the same thing. There are some levels, but these mostly relate to “smartness” rather than preferences or future plans. This has it’s own set of political problems.

That got me to thinking. Why the heck does it work this way? Why do we keep teenagers in school when they want to be out, yet make it prohibitively expensive and difficult for adults?

To compete, our workers need to have a basic foundation of common knowledge, the tools to learn and adapt, and, most importantly, an attitude of flexibility.

So here’s what I think. Give all kids an intensive basic foundation through grade 5. For grades 6-8, students are still required to go to school but can choose their concentration based on their interests: arts, high tech, mechanics, etc. From then on, anybody can go to school and follow any program they think will help them. To prevent abuse, students over 18 would have to provide for their own room and board. Maybe a mandatory stint in military service or the peace corps to help pay for the schooling.

Now back to your regularly scheduled drivel….

…because the movie career is not working out.

Link:
Devil Bunny Needs a Ham

Warning: presumptious

I can’t really call myself an artist. I am an amateur photographer with more enthusiasm than talent — see? And I design web sites, although this site and the linked site are both using templates I didn’t create.

Before I started trying to be creative, I was afraid of rejection. I thought that was what would really bother me about putting myself out there and exposing myself. Because that’s what it is, you know. And it’s a much more intimate exposure than being unclothed–it’s baring your heart and soul and letting everyone else in on what is going through your head.

It’s scary.

I heard a saying: you’re not a writer (artist/photographer/…) if you like to write. You’re a writer if you can’t keep yourself from writing no matter how hard you try. That’s getting more accurate for me with my photography. I have to take pictures and I have to share them. This is, ironically enough, happening to me as I pursue my business degree.

So now I can no longer hold myself back. And the response is not the dreaded laughter and derision. It’s something worse. It’s nothing.

Nothing?

Yep. Rather than getting a reaction, any reaction, I’m getting nothing. Nobody sees my site. Nobody comments. I’m just out here, all alone, a fire and brimstone preacher shouting to the rocks and tree stumps.

In Organizational Behavior we talked about people’s need to be with people. We talked about the tribes that punished wrongdoing by completely ignoring the offender. It must be awful to see. The person, who no doubt deserves punishment, feels that intense loneliness of not existing. Eventually that person wanders off and dies, alone and broken. One description of Hell, now more powerful to me than ever, is the description of being completely and totally cut off from God and everyone else for all eternity.

It makes me understand why some artists, politicians, celebrities, etc will do anything controversial. It’s for the attention.

Okay, I’ve learned this point. Now please visit my sites, make lots of comments, and send me money. Thank you!