Educationally Speaking

 EDUCATIONALLY SPEAKING

Educationally speaking, few care.  Public and private education, meaning K-12, is not to educate, but to train.  Are you, as a graduate, prepared to enter the modern workplace; do you have computer skills, can you code, well if you must, there are universities for business, engineering, computerization, medicine, law, accounting.  But once again, for purposes of usefulness, for joining the modern economy, earning a living, buying a big house and expensive car - - things that matter.

There are some that don't care.  They are either not capable or really don't care.  Let's talk about those that really don't care.  The uncaring, as I will call them, aren't particularly interested in a big house and expensive car.  Certainly they are nice to have and being offered one, would not reject the offer.  However, normally speaking, the issue is what you have to do to get these things.  

As it is becoming understood by those who give it some thought, we achieve our economic status through forcing ourselves to achieve.  We are not forced to do so by anything other than ourselves.  This is how you gain status in our world, by achieving, by working, by being employed, by making money, by buying things, by presenting oneself as a success.

Let us just say, you know, for the fun of it, that a person wants to go to college to major in English, or history, or art, or music - - what then?  What good are you, what will you do with those kinds of degrees?  They are not worth much and you will be poor.  Nobody wants an English major or a history major, or even a sociology or anthropology major.  You can't earn a decent living with that type of learning.

What we need are people with business degrees, MBAs at a minimum.  They know what they are doing.  Corporate America is where it's at.  Lets not forget.  Marketing, now that is a degree that is worth something.  You can make a lot of money with a marketing degree.  How to sell stuff to people who don't need what they buy, but will buy it anyway because you, as a marketing major, have figured out how to sell stuff that is not needed to people who simply don't have what you are selling.  This is, actually, what our economy and hence our world is about - - continually buying stuff that you have been coaxed to want but don't need.

Have you ever thought why a person will spend a million dollars on a house when one for one hundred thousand will meet every need?  Marketing - - that's where it's at. Why buy a $100,000 house when you can buy a $1,000,000 house?  Nobody pays the slightest attention to a $100,000 house, and for good reason - - it's crappy, probably doesn't even have a yard.  So let's get with it - - work and earn, work and earn.

Richard E H Phelps II
Mingo

It's a "Values" Year

 IT'S A "VALUES" YEAR

The anticipation is great that this year in the Iowa legislature it will be a "values" year - - "Iowa values".  I remember that our local representative earlier in the year was promoting "Iowa values" and I am quite sure knowing the ways of our political parties here in Iowa that this was not something that representative Dunwell came up with on his own.  Hence, I am anticipating that there will be a strong effort in the next legislative session to not only encourage "Iowa values", but to legislate some. 

I have previously recommended the Capital City Dispatch to readers.  It is an online publication, and free, that reports on the doings of our local state government.  Recently they had a piece on the refusal of our state administration to commit $3,000,000 to match a federal commitment of $30,000,000 from the Administration of Children and Families as a Preschool Development Grant.  Therefore, Iowa will not be receiving this $30,000,000.  I only mention this item for the reason that this failure must be  an example of "Iowa values".  "Values" over dollars is a sign of moral strength as far as I am concerned.

In addition, there are rumblings that our legislature is still not satisfied that our state school system is ensuring that our teachers and librarians  are teaching the correct values.  This seems to be important to our legislators.  I think Mr. Dunwell would concur.  When we talk about Iowa values, Mr. Dunwell has professed expertise.  Of course, the "values" effort will include abortion.  Abortions are not representative of "Iowa values" according to our Iowa legislature and additional efforts will surely be made to further address this aspect of "Iowa values".

I remember when it was "family values" that was the concern.  But, frankly, I never was quite certain what "family values" were.  That uncertainty has carried over to "Iowa values" - - I'm not quite sure what they are.  First of all, it would seem to me that one has to define "values":  it's always in the plural by the way.  There is never talk about "a value".  We don't say we are in favor of "Iowa value" - - that wouldn't make any sense now would it.

What I'm looking for is a list of "Iowa values" so that I will know what they are.  I really do feel left out of this whole conversation about "Iowa values" without knowing what they include.  I need a list!  So if someone could provide one to me, I would appreciate it very much.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo