Education Reform LO9623

Dr. Ivan Blanco (BLANCO@BU4090.BARRY.EDU)
Fri, 30 Aug 1996 11:01:41 -0400 (EDT)

Replying to LO9385 --

> Date: 23 Aug 96 08:54:24 EDT
> From: Rol Fessenden <76234.3636@CompuServe.COM>
> Replying to LO9300 --
>
> I have to challenge again the notion that there is something wrong with
> educating people for work. I have never, never, never, heard a clear
> description of the problem. The concerns we frequently hear are vague
> connections to preparing people for the assembly line or training welders or
> some such thing. This is indicative of how far we have strayed from
> understanding the nature of most work in the United States. Assemly line work
> is an extraordinarily small portion of the work available today. In fact, we
> probably preparing people for this level of work. That is doubly unfortunate,
> because there just isn't that much of it.
>
The nature of work has changed a lot. Technology, competition, and
other factors have contributed to this process. The relationship between
workers and employers in changing too! I taped a PBS documentary in 1994
title The New American Work Force. This documentary shows a lot of the
changes to talk about. In fact, they even talekd about the notion of
workers becoming like free agents, and negotiating their own contracts,
etc.

> Every business leader who has ever spoken on this issue has made essentially the
> same point. We need people who can think clearly, articulate clearly, and take
> action that is congruent with their thinking. We need people who can be
> thoughtful, responsible citizens.
>
> I challenge anyone to be specific about what we can incorporate into the
> curriculum that would lead to intelligent, thoughtful citizens, _and_ would be
> valuable to people in their work lives.
> --

I would say that if we emphasize systems thinking a lot more, this would
contribute to the improvement in understanding that makes be more
intelligent. The learning and application of critical thinking skills to
the point that they become a normal way of thinking, developing very strong
teamwork abilities, could also contribute to the development of behavior
that would useful to people at work and in their own lives!

-- Ivan,

--

*************************************************************** R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515 Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412 International Business Programs Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________ Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu <<<<< ---------------- >>>>> "Si un hombre fuera necesario para sostener el Estado, este Estado no deberia existir." "If one man were necessary to sustain a Nation, this Nation should not exist." Simon Bolivar ===============================================================

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