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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 9-15, 2009 Page C-7
Schools: Stop the whining and change, innovate!
By Tom Watkins
specially certified e-learning students to high demand fields tuition rate. effortlessly. As Michigan fid-
instructors, hence reducing such as math, science and dles, other states and nations
When I was a boy, I learned
the need to expand campus technology. All education is
Change or die
are moving forward.
you had to pull up the anchor
infrastructure and personnel valuable, but some education
Real change in Michigan is
if you wanted to set sail. It
cost. is more valuable than others.
Clearly, these are unortho-
going to require real change.
seems many in Lansing and
• Pretend Michigan was just
Currently we are producing
dox ideas that, under scrutiny,
It is time we lift anchor and
our local schools never learned
discovered with 1.7 million
more college grads in fields
may or may not be solid policy
boldly set sail for the future.
this lesson.
K-12 school-age children and
in low or virtually no demand
prescriptions for what ails
o know
Tom Watkins is an educa-
The foundation on which
over $12 billion to educate
while high demand fields
Michigan. However, I d
that our current course is as
tion and business consultant
our schools have been built
them to world-class standards.
cannot not find native born
unwise and unstable as it is
in the U.S. and China. He
has disappeared. Raising taxes
Would any thinking person
students to fill available jobs.
unsustainable.
served as state superinten-
to perpetuate the what is — is
create the system that current
The taxpayers of Michigan are
insanity. It is the equivalent
exists? Take action to consol-
subsidizing this inefficiency.
Perpetuating the status
dent of schools, 2001-2005,
of trying to set sail without
idate school districts in ways
Suggest those that major in
quo will not make us com-
and mental health director,
pulling up anchor. Yet, our
to maximize the redirection of
high demand fields have their
petitive in 21st century, in-
1986-1990. He can be reached
local schools seem to think in
resources to the classroom.
tuition cut in half while those
novation, knowledge economy
at tdwatkins@aol com.
majoring in low demand fields
spite of Michigan’s new eco-
where ideas and work can and
Tom Watkins
• Use market forces to steer
pay one and one-half the going
nomic reality they should be
do move around the globe
immune.
Today’s economic crisis
should provide the impetus to
innovate and change.
Listening to schools whine
and demand more money is
getting old. Where are the
creative, innovative ideas to
address the crisis at hand? THE DECEMBER
Clearly, it would be easier if
our local schools never had to
change and adjust, but that is
not reality.
Let’s Get Radical
If we are to thrive and not
merely survive in this centu-
ry, we must be willing to ask,
what if the impossible isn’t?
How radical should we be?
Here are a few examples:
• Eliminate the senior year of
high school. For far too many
of our students, the 12th grade
has become nothing more than
state subsidized dating. Our
children clearly have matured
at a faster pace and technolog-
ical advances have accelerated
learning and knowledge expo-
nentially. With the state in-
vesting more than a $1 billion
per grade in K-12 education,
these are resources that could
be redirected to our commu-
nity colleges and universities
with a far better outcome for
the individual and state.
• Where is it ordained that a
college degree must take four
years of study? Could the
same amount of knowledge be
acquired in three years? Slic-
ing a year off an undergradu-
ate degree would save stu-
TODAY IS THE DAY!
dents time and money and can
be done without sacrificing
SHOP 8AMMIDNIGHT!
quality. Such noted universi-
ties as Cambridge and Oxford
offer three-year degrees.
MORNING SPECIALS
• Maximize technology and
limited resources in our
8AM1PM TODAY!
system of higher education
by making the equivalent of
one year of the basic fresh-
men or sophomore instruc-
TAKE $10 OFF
tion offered via e-learning. The
courses would be taught by TODAY UNTIL 1PM
Mosaic
presents
‘Woodward
Wonderland’
The Mosaic Youth Theatre
of Detroit will present “Wood-
ward Wonderland: A Detroit
Holiday Celebration” Dec. 11-
13 at the Detroit Film Theatre
inside the DIA.
Through original short
WOW! PASS
plays and exuberant song and
dance, “Woodward Wonder-
ALL SALE & CLEARANCE APPAREL AND SELECTED HOME ITEMS!
land” playfully pays tribute EXCEPT SPECIALS & SUPER BUYS
to the metro area’s many rich
†
seasonal traditions such as
listening to Motown Christmas
albums, or attending a produc-
tion of “The Nutcracker.”
$
Audiences will take a nos-
talgic journey home to magi-
1O OFF
cal Motor City destinations
like Toyland on the 12th
YOUR PURCHASE
†
OF $25 OR MORE.
floor of the old J.L. Hudson’s
VALID 12/8 & 12/9/09 ‘TIL 1PM. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. CANNOT BE USED ON SPECIALS OR SUPER BUYS.
department store and the
†Excludes: specials, super buys, gift cards, previous purchases, special orders, selected Licensed depts., jewelry trunk shows,
windy 1990 Thanksgiving Day
furniture, mattresses, floor coverings, rugs, electrics/electronics, services. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon,
Parade when the Chilly Willy
extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible
float made its memorable trip
item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value
down Woodward Avenue.
and may not be redeemed for cash, used to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to your account. EXTRA SAVINGS
Holiday traditions of many
$ APPLIED TO REDUCED PRICES. Purchase must be $25 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.
cultures and faiths are rep-
resented in ‘Woodward Won-
derland,” demonstrating “the
spirit of Detroit.”
The show features scenes
and stories by the Mosaic
acting company, all types of
holiday music by the Mosaic
Singers and performances by
LaShelle’s School of Dance,
along with a special guest at
each performance reading the
classic holiday poem “Twas
the Night Before Christmas.”
Friday, Dec. 11, is a special
target half-price family perfo-
mance: all Friday tickets are
$10.
To purchase tickets for
“Woodward Wonderland,”
call (313) 833-4005, or order
online at www.mosaicdetroit.
org.
Special group rates are
available by calling (313) 872-
6910, ext. 4021.
All shows are general ad-
mission.
Children under 5 are not
admitted.
HOURS MAY VARY BY STORE. VISIT MACYS.COM AND CLICK ON STORES FOR LOCAL INFORMATION
Open a Macy’s Account for
Organizers say this is some-
SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 12/8 & 12/9/09. extra 15% savings
thing not to be missed. New cardholder savings are subject to credit approval; savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, certain
the fi rst 2 days with more rewards to come.
lease departments and gift cards; on furniture, mattresses and rugs, the new account savings is limited to $100; application must qualify for Exclusions apply; see left.
immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.
9110496C.indd 1 12/1/09 9:40:46 AM
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