Now, China’s students lead the world in standardized testing in both Math and Reading scores, while America lags behind in 26th and 11th place, respectively.  China has been spending a much larger percentage of its GDP each year on education, and apparently that investment has paid off.  Furthermore, China is investing a lot in technology right now, and graduating more people with computer or tech related degrees than the United States, which has seen a 37% decline in tech related studies and graduations in the last 6 years.  For more surpising information about education in China, examine the infographic here:

The infographic below tells us a couple of things:  first, it doesn’t seem that most college students spend a whole lot of time actually learning.  The other thing is, not all degree programs are equal, and certain choices could still leave graduates out of higher paying  job markets.

“There are several ways,” said Seraphina Gould, Curriculum and Instruction Officer for Lake County Public Schools. “For one thing, students today can’t be separated from their social networks.  They use mobile phones to communicate constantly in ways previous generations would never have enjoyed. But this is who we are dealing with now, and to reach them, we have got to meet them where they are spending their time.”

She’s right about that.  Let’s take a look at how social networks are impacting the classroom:

Not enough time.  You have to work full time and help care for a household, so going to school is not something that you think you can fit into your crazy schedule.  Think again.  Many colleges now offer online programs that will allow you to not only get a degree in a field that you are interested in, but also allows you to do it all from your home on a computer.  You would be surprised to learn all of the degrees and programs offered by schools online.  For example, criminology degrees, communications degrees, and technology degrees.  Another way to have more time is to talk with your boss.  A lot of businesses are encouraging employees to have a college degree, so you might be able to get some extra class time during your typical work day.

Too much cost.  It’s true, school does cost money.  Not many people want to have to take out a loan for their education, and that is perfectly understandable.  What if you could lower or even eliminate out of pocket costs for school though?  You can sure try.  Financial aid and federal grants are offered throughout the year for people going to college, and you can get some of that money too.  Another great way to pay for college is to see if your business will help in paying for the costs.  When you have a degree you will be even more of an asset to your current company and they might help you to get to that point.

But Emily has been there and done that, and after eight years on the front lines battling legislation that does more harm than good not only or students but for all stakeholders in any given community, she now believes the time has come to cede the victory to politicians in Washington, and to the governors of states who have supported this doomed initiative by accepting stimulus funding such as “race to the top,” and other monies tied closely to NCLB metrics like AYP (adequate yearly progress.)

That kind of money runs out quickly, and most of the time there is nothing to show for it, no accountability for how it was distributed or spent.  When it is awarded, after strict competition between states that attempt to demonstrate they can tie teacher salaries to performance in order to make No Child Left Behind seem it is working, that money is earmarked and often spent before the checks are even cashed.  The guidelines for spending are narrow, but there is little follow up, and many state boards of education mismanage funds as a matter of course every year, wasting millions in tax payer dollars and not being held accountable. Meanwhile, students continue to fall behind, because they are not being taught, but used as pawns in a high stakes gamble in which nobody wins, least of all, the child.

So, this year the school bell will ring on that first day with one less veteran teacher under the roof of her old school building.  What a shame.

After almost 90 percent of Baltimore city schools fell short of achieving Adequate Yearly Progress this year under NCLB rules, schools around the nation mirror this same downward slide.  Exponentially more and more schools are failing to make AYP each year since 2001 under a federal program that penalizes schools for not making progress (even if they are already performing well.)

According to the outrageous mythology that is No Child Left Behind,  100 percent of American students will be proficient in both reading and math by 2014. That gives us two more school years.  But the U.S. Deptartment of Education has predicted that the majority of schools in this country will be considered failures under the law by that time.

Before we go pointing fingers and trying to determine what went wrong with students like the ones just described, it might be better to take a step back and examine what went right for the smaller percentage of high school graduates that do know how to manage their money.  To be successful with money requires more than simply being a well-rounded individual who practices prudence in all his or her affairs, or who goes for the most natural methods to stay calm and collected, like using herbal incense or taking an exhilarating walk through the city with a beloved pet.  It also takes training.  For many of the most successful college aged money managers, that training began when they were still in Kindergarten.  Perhaps their parents started them off with little incentives to save small amounts of money, or taught them to count money properly, both to and from other people.  Or perhaps the young person was given a savings bond, or had a bank account opened on his or her behalf from the time they were born.  The person who opened the account may have taught that student to pay attention to, and even take over the management of, that account as he or she grew older.  These are all good practices, and they are common things that are discovered to have been done right from an early age in people who have good money sense by the time they begin their post secondary education.  Financial literacy begins at an early age.

In a survey, employers frequently mentioned that one important factor in a hiring decision is the applicant’s ability to clearly and succinctly express him or herself on the job application.

“Lots of these young people,” said Tina Mark, “don’t realize the difference in formal and informal communications.  I have actually received job applications where it looked like the applicant was having an Instant Message chat, or texting, rather than using complete sentences.  Lots of substitution of numeric symbols for words, emoticons, you name it.  It’s just abominable.”

This is a real problem, and it’s not just employers who are noticing.  Many of today’s high school graduates cannot even write a check properly.  Some of them don’t even know what a check is.

“I use plastic,” said Jeremy Simmons. “I haven’t ever used a check, that I know of.  Maybe once or twice to pay for something when my parents sent payment with me, but I don’t even have checks of my own.  I didn’t know there was a certain way you have to fill them out.  I would just write, you know, whatever.  Numbers, I guess.”

What Mr. Simmons doesn’t realize, however, is that writing numbers sometimes happens in more than numeric symbol form.  On a check, you have to fill out both numbers and write the number in word form.  I bet Jeremy wouldn’t have done that.

And take Trinka Lorenson, who, at age 23, still draws kittens all over every official document she signs.

“I’ve always done that, since about third grade,” Trink said.  ”It’s part of who I am.  I also use pink ink every time.   I’m not sure I’d want to work for a corporation that couldn’t handle a cute pink kitty.”

‘Nuff Said.

So, maybe it’s not the music and Direct TV our kids are watching, but instead the expectations we set for them in. Think about it.