Brooklyn
A year ago I read about someone who suggested that for those working on city revitalization, Brooklyn was a far more realistic model than Manhattan. The notion being that the assets and scale of Manhattan are not replicable. It seemed like good advice then and even more so now. At the time I read that […]
Do as the rich do
When it comes to education the Harlem Children’s Zone’s Geoffrey Canada has it right when he says he wants for Harlem’s kids what his rich donors want for their kids. Its a lesson worth remembering as business and education leaders meet for the Economic Summit. Seems like the most important question for the attendees should […]
Michigan is a low wage state
Michigan was the birthplace of the 20th Century American mass middle class. Largely built on a foundation of high paid blue collar –– mainly unionized factory –– jobs. It is the main reason Michigan was one of the most prosperous places on the planet for nearly a century. But that economy is over. A victim […]
Growing Detroit
The Detroit Regional Chamber’s second annual Detroit Policy Conference was terrific. Worth attending in future years. 800 folks turned out to focus on how to accelerate the revitalization of the city. As we have written frequently a vibrant Detroit is essential to Michigan’s future prosperity. Because in an increasingly talent driven economy, central cities are […]
Scientists
Even more than machinists and welders we have been told over and over again by policy makers and the business community that American has a critical need for more scientists. The consequence of the so-called dearth of scientists threatens the American economy. And therefore we need government action to get more kids to go into science. […]
Does everyone need a four year degree?
The answer to the title’s question is of course not. But that fact shouldn’t change the design of k-12 education away from the goal of every child graduating high school with the ability to pursue a college degree without remediation. I do not believe that everyone needs a four year degree. Far from it. Don […]
Education for an old economy
What worries me the most about the direction education policy is taking is that it seems increasingly disconnected from the economy of today and tomorrow. That we are trying to align education to an economy of stable jobs and occupations in an economy where both are increasingly unstable because of globalization and technology. And even […]
Wrong track on education policy
Readers of these posts know that we believe education attainment is what matters most to future economic success of both individuals and communities. That our system of preparing human capital –– teaching and learning –– is economic growth priority #1. Unfortunately Michigan seems to be headed in the wrong direction on both k-12 and higher […]
Machinists and welders
Machinists and welders have become public exhibit #1 of why we need to reemphasize vocational training in high school and beyond. The claim is these are high demand/high wage occupations that are now suffering labor shortages because the culture and policy is insisting that everyone get a four year degree. Lets look at the data: […]
Preparing for a career not a job
Terrific blog on Spartans Helping Spartans by Eileen Lonergan. Its about how MSU prepared her for a career in an occupation that she didn’t know existed when she was in college. The post is titled: “How I Used What I Learned To Build Something I Didn’t Even Know Would Exist” Lonergan writes: When I graduated […]