I have blogged before that our economic future will be driven by technology. That is more than just words. It means that we will have to meet that challenge with our "children".
That may sound strange that the challenge of the future will have to be met by our children, but if you think about it, it has always been that way. The most important thing about us humans is that we have the ability to foresee the future and do something about it. In the past, there was less need to be concerned about the future. We could look backwards and use that as a guide for the future. Most people passed their trade along to their children and that model worked as long as things did not change very fast. That is no longer the case. 100 years ago the average person held the same job for their whole life. Today our children can expect to hold many jobs in their working life time. I know of kids who are now in their 30's who have already worked for 4 or 5 companies and have had as many jobs. We know that it is only going to get worse. Further, the nature of most of those jobs will required more intellect and skill than the jobs their parents had.
Now, I will get down to the message. We are now competing with countries all over the world and the most significant is China. China is building their technological abilities and skills like no other. This is because they know the future will be driven by technology. China produces far more engineers and technical people than the USA or any other country. Our children will have to compete with China in that future. Ask yourselves as parents, if you are preparing your children to compete with China? If not, why not?
Look at your children and ask how many are taking the difficult science classes in high school and how many are working on technical degrees in college? I can tell you that most of my friend's children who are going to college are not getting degrees in technology. I think it is due to the failure of the parents, not the schools. For sure, the schools could help to encourage and promote technology, but in the end, it is the responsibility of parents. My challenge to all parents is to remind you that it is upto you to prepare your children to take care of the country that was created by those who came before them.
I can tell you that we are not in the lead right now and we are getting farther and farther behind every day. That means that if we want to get back into the lead that we will have to get our children to work harder than we did! Our children can not look backwards at their parents for a model, because they will have to work harder than we did and most are are not!
Wake up and do your job as parents!! You can not pass the buck!!
That may sound strange that the challenge of the future will have to be met by our children, but if you think about it, it has always been that way. The most important thing about us humans is that we have the ability to foresee the future and do something about it. In the past, there was less need to be concerned about the future. We could look backwards and use that as a guide for the future. Most people passed their trade along to their children and that model worked as long as things did not change very fast. That is no longer the case. 100 years ago the average person held the same job for their whole life. Today our children can expect to hold many jobs in their working life time. I know of kids who are now in their 30's who have already worked for 4 or 5 companies and have had as many jobs. We know that it is only going to get worse. Further, the nature of most of those jobs will required more intellect and skill than the jobs their parents had.
Now, I will get down to the message. We are now competing with countries all over the world and the most significant is China. China is building their technological abilities and skills like no other. This is because they know the future will be driven by technology. China produces far more engineers and technical people than the USA or any other country. Our children will have to compete with China in that future. Ask yourselves as parents, if you are preparing your children to compete with China? If not, why not?
Look at your children and ask how many are taking the difficult science classes in high school and how many are working on technical degrees in college? I can tell you that most of my friend's children who are going to college are not getting degrees in technology. I think it is due to the failure of the parents, not the schools. For sure, the schools could help to encourage and promote technology, but in the end, it is the responsibility of parents. My challenge to all parents is to remind you that it is upto you to prepare your children to take care of the country that was created by those who came before them.
I can tell you that we are not in the lead right now and we are getting farther and farther behind every day. That means that if we want to get back into the lead that we will have to get our children to work harder than we did! Our children can not look backwards at their parents for a model, because they will have to work harder than we did and most are are not!
Wake up and do your job as parents!! You can not pass the buck!!
