the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workerforce unveiled its report Tough Choices or Tough Times and its recommendations for major changes in the American (U.S.) education system. The commission said the American standard of living will be in serious jeopardy.

Anyone who hopes to hold a job in the next several decades should read—if not memorize—this extraordinary report, said Norman R. Augustine, Retired Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation.

This proposal is radical? Yes. Hard to achieve? Of course. Essential? Absolutely. Our nation's schools are failing ... , said William E. Brock, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Report authors argue if someone can create an algorithm for a routine job, the odds are that someone will automate that job. Most middle class jobs are routine, therefore subject to automation.

A number of recent press summaries of the report emphasize proposed changes to schools and link them to likely consequences for failure to implement changes.

CNN's summary offers these highlights:
End high school at the 10th grade for many students.

Beginning teachers should earn more, paid for by scrapping conventional teacher pension plans in favor of 401(k) style benefits and from an estimated $60 billion saved by dropping 11th and 12th grades for most students.

Put independent contractors in charge of operating public schools.

These are not new proposals. Most have existed in various forms and in smaller implementations during at least four decades.

Teacher unions formed in part to move public discussion away from such changes during the 1960s and 1970s.

Leave No Child Behind was a first small step in the direction of these proposals.

The hope then as now has been for the public to engage in an information gathering discussion of ways to create new schooling procedures that will result in U.S. students holding a more competitive position for life style in a global economy.

Students who use Tablet PCs and Ultra Mobile PCs will find themselves in an advantageous position as schooling changes continue.

Mobile PC researchers and independent software developers appear sitting in the cat-bird seat for contributing to these changes.

Hang on. This could become an exciting time to participate in U.S. schools, more exciting than the 1960s and 1970s, which in many ways exceeded the stated fears of most educators.

In the advocacy jargon of the 1960s changes in schools, it appears time for educators to demonstrate they do increase measurable student performance rates.


Tablet PC Education Blog