Facebook

The ubiquity of Facebook or some newer snappy version is nothing short of amazing.

I enjoy seeing the photos of distant relatives as much as anyone.  .  I saw photos of my sister and brother in law's grandchild, a very handsome young boy who lives in a distant locale, a child I will probably never meet.  I see the left coast version of a brother's grandchild, whose gregarious personality comes through  in his photos. Again, meeting him  in person is doubtful.  I see  some news of other friends and family  from time to time. 


One thing I , along with many others, am having a problem with is the increasing political  re posting of  or sharing of political attacks .  The attacks are usually hit pieces of dubious veracity and logic.  One relative, Democratic partisan, post every attack she can locate against Betsy De Vos, the heiress to the Amway Empire who was named to head the Department of Education on what would be considered by many as soft credentials.  DeVos is a proponent of school choice and alternative schooling .  The missive of today was so illogical  that I did have to question the why of it. DeVos may not be the best candidate for her slot, but we the people are deserving of hearing her out, even if her spiel runs afoul of educational unions  in the political arena.  The Unions do not matter nearly as much as the consumers of educational process.

For one reason alone, I think that school  choice may not be such a bad idea.  Those of us whose children have attended sound suburban schools have no basis on which to complain, most of our children come out of system with the ability to read..  Those whose children attend many urban schools fail to complain and they have every reason to.

It makes no matter to me at this late stage of my  game , I do not have much more of a race to run.
My children are for the most part grown. They will have to deal with it in their part of larger society.
And by deal with it , I mean with the damage wrought by large segments of society ill equipped to work at even the most simple positions due to an inability to read. 

The other day I went to replace a home air conditioner with a new type.  The instructions were poorly written, to the point that they were in large measure omitted.  It was only through multiple readings that I was able to figure out what they were talking about.  I find this pretty frequently in the area of consumer product.  Some one has a limited ability to write concise and complete instructions, which is the skill associated with language---the reading and writing part.

So if we want to continue to unleash persons of doubtful literacy upon an unsuspecting society we should avoid even listening to the DeVos plan for school choice and we should continue to do things as we have always done them.

In my mind innovation should not be limited to the way we watch television, interact with our cell phones  or in the way we listen to music.  Innovation can be much broader than those trifling concerns.  Innovation in the was we educate, the way we govern, the way we conduct business and deliver health care are far more important than live streaming music to my wireless ear buds.POSSIBILITIES

If you were to click the link for POSSIBILITIES, you should be drawn to the comment section to see what opposition there is to even discussing the prospect for innovation, that is disheartening.

So I for one am willing to listen to DeVos   THE REASON
I will listen to her in the same way that I will listen to  Chuck Schumer, on the off chance that either one of them will make a grain of sense.  In the area of political discourse these days it is the best we can hope for.

If that is not sufficient reason, I surely don't know what is.  I believe that those persons who have had educational benefit have a much better chance of avoiding a lifetime of  problems, economic and social.  Oh, for sure someone will be quick to anecdotally pointing out the Phd. they know who is a drug addict.  But that case in my mind is not the norm.  That case is the greater exception .  But he undereducated person who has a lifetime of job issues, health issues, financial issues is not.  If some would have the choice to a better life, would they not take it?

So put on your facebook page all the political posturing you want, and put your head in the sand when it comes to talking about innovation just because it is suggested by the "opposition" and you will live out your days in the society that your children will inherit.  You don't even have to like this post.