CHIEFS VERSUS INDIANS Our American educational system has, over many years, existed while displaying obvious shortcomings. They are becoming more noticeable as we progress toward a worthy rearrangements, but much remains to be done. Simply contrasts of the attainment by students under other, more efficient systems tell the story graphically. The average one of us dislikes the reading of any negative qualities in even the most colorful presentations.
Simply put on such criticism is that we are constantly trying to create far too many Chiefs and not enough Injuns. We have justly been accused of attempting to turn out
graduating classes which will consist mainly of executives with left over who will serve as workers. Now that outsourcing has become the way industry, commerce and business
are to be run we have no need for training for non-existing. We are required to go along with the real world – like it or not.
We must now fit individuals for daily life in being consumers, users, managers, delineations, or co-ordinaters.
I ran a check on things I wear last night and I find only two items marked “Made in U.S.A.” One was a belt so marked that I don't know if it means the leather-like belt itself or just the metal buckle. Another item which I was led to believe was shipped from weaver's shamrock-scented hands - my genuine, authentic and sassy, narrow brimmed, little tight woven of the best of wool - my prized “Irish Walking Hat”.It is the only clothing I possess made U.S.A.
The plague of mail order diploma mills now sweeping the nation shows the extreme extent to which illegal college degrees of all levels, high school and trade school certificate are being printed and sold. They are being sold – many from overseas source, and they are being accepted and used in the job markets.
Meanwhile college enrollment costs are rising steadily even as standards for acceptance are being lowered. How is all of this going to end? And – how soon?
It has ceased to be a mere matter of chiefs and Indians. It concerns survival of the entire tribe.
A.L.M. January 25, 2006 [c368 wds]
