Like most speakers and authors, I read a lot. But in the last few months I haven’t read much in the news that makes sense when it comes to rebuilding the educational infrastructure of America…until today. Robert Kiyosaki’s USA Today editorial in the forum section (2/9/10) is not only brilliant; it’s also practical.
America needs more ideas (based on critical thinking) like this, and I’m not surprised it came from an entrepreneur. Listen to this post, and let us know what YOU think. Steve Siebold
11 thoughts on “My Response to Robert Kiyosaki’s USA Today Editorial”
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Here’s the link to the editorial:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/column-we-need-two-school-systems-.html
I taught journalism at the secondary level, Steve, and without knowing it I was teaching critical thinking or world class thinking and mental toughness as you define it – actually I know what I was doing was questioning the status quo then questioning our conclusions and so on.
What I saw then and a whole lot more today is a press with little to no critical thinking skills meaning no objectivity to see things from many angles, to challenge their own beliefs, and to engage in high level mental toughness as you define it.
OK – they got their jobs they got their agendas they got their busy minds and mouths and fingers scattering a variety of verbage all over the place but it’s a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing BUT something contrary to critical thinking.
OR maybe they’re – meaning the members of the press – just sleeping it off or onto some really important stuff this week like celebrity gossip or what their bosses want them to follow. Actually I like ‘the press” and am a fan of reporting and opinionating – it may be as simple as they just have no opinion of this BUT they should.
Does anyone really care about being taken care of by the State or The Company and the masses of our children being educated to become members of the taken care of herd with dull thoughts confused by these things AND does anyone have the intellectual ability to even entertain the seriousness of the problem?
Many do think and care about these things – I hope they add their voice to this blog, Steve.
Mike
Mike,
Good question! How about, guys! Sound off and let yourself be heard.
This is actually the first post of the last three that hasn’t generated a call or email from someone in the press. Interesting. What do you make of that, Mike?
I wonder if the number of comments on this subjects reflects on the predominate non critical thinking on this topic.
I taught in the public school system from 1975 – 2002 BUT around 1983 came to understand the anti entrepreneur pro government pro liberal arts bias our system had become.
Until the day I left teaching – I taught all grades 5 – 12, adjunct for a business and liberal arts community college, and adult education so my experience with a diverse population – inner city – and subject matter was well known – through all of that I was a one man soap box for exactly what we’re discussing here.
I could go on and on and would love to talk about the public school system with anyone. I was an award winner and so were my students and I had my hand on the pulse of the times.
Ironically, I had to revolt against my own thinking from 1964 – 1983. I would love to be involved in this kind of discussion in an on going way.
Mike
“The mission of the U.S. Academy for Entrepreneurs would be to create sustainable, well-paying jobs for employees by aggressive growth of the business.” Robert Kiyosaki
This is a fascinating way to approach the unemployment problem but I think we’d have to leave Congress out of it. Just as teachers in this Academy would basically serve in a ‘volunteer’ role, there should be a rotating panel of established entrepreneurs deciding who the qualified applicants would be.
And while we’re changing things around a bit, why not make some changes to the Employee Academy? Besides the ability to communicate and connect in business (as Jane pointed out above) how about teaching some ‘real life’ skills to employees?
Instead of Accounting how about a course in Accountability?
Be Well,
Jaroslav
If I were to say that there was one huge problem that the U.S. has it would be that in general we are focused on money first. In my opinion, Robert Kiyosaki has that right. And teaching people with drive and desire to be entrepreneurs about the real life skills they need to be able to create healthy companies and new jobs is an exciting proposition.
What I don’t understand is why we wouldn’t want to teach everyone the concepts of “focus on the mission first”. Wouldn’t we want everyone to be on the same page? Even if the entrepreneurs understand that focusing on the mission is the key to building successful businesses, if their employees think it is all about making money then they will not be contributing to the mission in an effective way. If they don’t contribute to the mission then the mission will fail.
In addition there are many other life and business skills that only a handful of people are ever exposed to in school. For instance – who ever tells student that 85% of their success in business has to do with the ability to communicate and connect with other people. If people really understood the significance of that research and required that students understand and be able to implemented this and other real life business skills in order to graduate from high schools and colleges how would that change the face of our economy?
Steve, Great blog. I agree completely and would also teach there for nothing.