A NATION OF BARISTAS 'n' BURGER FLIPPERS

We need biologists not baristas

Fairfield Daily Republic August 11, 2011

By Kelvin Wade

School starts Monday for the Fairfield-Suisun School District. Are we giving them every chance to be the scientists and engineers of the future? Or are we turning out the next generation of baristas and burger-flippers?

Last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 2.6 million jobs went unfulfilled. In the heart of the worst recession in most peoples’ memory, where millions were looking for work, millions of jobs sat unclaimed. How could this be?

These jobs are in health care, aerospace, scientific labs and computers and require advanced education. While we’ve seen illegal immigrants demonized for taking jobs from Americans, here we have good-paying jobs that employers can’t find Americans qualified to take. So not only are we outsourcing manufacturing jobs, we’re importing people with advanced degrees from Asia, India and other places to take these jobs.

Only 17 percent of college students are even pursuing degrees in science and engineering. We’re guaranteeing that we’re handing off a lower standard of living to our children. That’s never happened in America.

We can’t hope to be competitive in a global economy if the only jobs we’re qualified for is serving coffee and hamburgers. I’m not knocking the people who do those jobs. There is dignity in all honest work. And those two jobs have made my life much more delicious. But we can’t be a strong nation with a vibrant middle class engine if those are the only jobs available or that we’re qualified to do.

If you’re the parent of a junior high student or a freshman, it may be hard to get them to focus on college right now but that’s our challenge. We’ve fallen behind in math and science and that’s why we’re not turning out the scientists and engineers like China, Japan and India are.

We know there are problems with the public education system. Recently in Atlanta, 178 teachers and administrators in 44 schools were accused of inflating test scores in order to keep their jobs. In light of this and similar cases, the Obama Administration is offering waivers to all 50 states to exempt schools from federal testing mandates. That’s pathetic.

When it comes to what’s wrong with our system we can argue about budget cuts, teachers, unions, curriculum and mandatory testing. But that arguing won’t help your child right now. School is starting so we need solutions right now.

So what can we actually do to help students improve? Seize control of your child’s education. If that means home-schooling, do that. After home-schooling his daughter and sending her to a private school, my brother Tony and his wife Beth camped out to win their daughter a slot at the Buckingham Charter Magnet School in Vacaville.

But even if your child is in public school, you can seize control right now. While it’s important for Fairfield-Suisun students to receive a well-rounded education that includes sports and the arts, we need to drill down on science and math. If that means learning it yourself to help him or her then do that. Have them study with a friend who excels at the subjects. Hire a tutor if you can afford that. Find a friend or family member that can help. Supplement their learning with trips to the library.

Education is the key to our future prosperity. The largest long-term stimulus program in American history is starting now and that’s public education. Let’s give our students a fighting chance. Peace.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I'm not knocking baristas and burger flippers. I could've just as easily said newspaper columnists or convenience store clerks. The future of America was always high tech jobs. That's what we led the world in. But our education hasn't kept pace. We've fallen behind the rest of the world and there are good paying jobs just sitting there waiting for an American qualified to take them.

The future is STEM jobs. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We can't wait for our educational system to be "fixed." We can't wait on a blue ribbon panel. We can't wait for the magic answer. We definitely can't wait on funding. So we've got to go guerilla-style when it comes to education.

Years ago, I had a conversation with my cousin, Mustafa Ali, (Yeah, my cousin's a Muslim. Got a problem with that?) and he was talking about this subject year ago. That we can't wait for things to get fixed. Kids are in school NOW. That kids and parents have to do what it takes to get a good education. If you don't have a high school diploma, you're behind the 8 ball. Even with one, it's not enough. Kids with four year degrees are finding it hard to find jobs. Whatever you have to do to get advanced degrees, specialized training and experience, that's what you have to do to set you apart. Parents have to make education a priority. Parents have to stay on their kids. Get involved with that homework. Kids have to work hard. Go for that extra credit.

I'm a Raider fan. I have been since 1976 and I'll be one til I die. But it's hard living off the glory days. Niners fans know what I'm talking about. Niners ain't been in the Super Bowl since Clinton was in office. Ain't it hard living off the past? Think about your country. It's not pleasant waving an American flag chanting, "We were number one! We were number one!"