Our children are our future. Education is at the heart at developing their skills and abilities and yet year after year we hear about the degrading state of our educational system. Our nation has spent trillions of dollars on failed programs that research and experts had promised would work. Achievement gaps persist, performance declines are accelerating and so it is of paramount importance that we explore novel ideas and solutions. You might not agree with many or any of the ideas below, and we certainly are not endorsing policies – our hope is just to create a space where bright, dedicated folks from the community can share their ideas – so that we can all come together and better understand each others experiences, concerns and how we might move forward together to build a brighter future.

Amit Amram

I wish the music education system would educate students about how to actually do what they learn about as a career. Many artists, musicians, producers, etc. go to music school to not only learn about music theory, playing your instrument, scales, or how to use a compressor. People need tools on how to turn their passion, and skills into a sustainable career, that they love. It’s so sad seeing people graduating with no idea what to do next, or how to actually find/ create work in this field. Read more>>

Frank Rossi

I would like to see a more Holistic Curriculum approach. We need to broaden the curriculum to include not only traditional academic subjects but also life skills such as financial literacy, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. This can help students make informed decisions about their personal and professional lives. This as well as teaching students more about mental health and the healthcare system in general. Read more>>

Angela Tait

I’d advocate for schools to introduce life skills training, including personal finances and career development, as early as high school. Early professional exposure would help students align their college majors with genuine interests and aptitudes. For instance, my initial degree in Media Management wasn’t as suitable for me as Organization Development and Human Resources, which I only realized post-internships. Moreover, teaching financial basics like saving, investing, and understanding credit scores could prevent common pitfalls young adults face. In short, early life skills training could pave the way for more successful adults nationwide. Read more>>

Austin Sepulveda

First, I think teachers are the true heroes of our work force. It takes a tremendous amount of self sacrifice and care for others to take on what is really one of the most important jobs that we have as a society. It’s also one that is dreadfully underpaid, underfunded and under-appreciated. One of the things I feel like American society gets wrong is the concept of work life balance. While it is certainly a dream to look forward to Monday the same way you look forward to Friday, I don’t think this will be the reality for 99% of people. Read more>>

Erin Borzellino

There is a lot of pressure now for smart, self-motivated kids to get a 4 year college degree. While my degree certainly served me well, allowing me to enter the work force immediately, I do not think that is the right choice for everyone. I did not continue on the path I chose in college and I could have been further along in my photography career had I chosen an apprenticeship or internship in the photography field. I would love to see focus in high schools on apprenticeships for technical trades and creative work that would allow young people to start careers and own businesses earlier in their lives without the burden of debt from higher education. Read more>>

Tyler Allen

I think a big problem with the Education System right now is that it incentivizes obedience. I think I got off really lucky in my case with the Video Production class I was able to take in High School, but truthfully most people will settle with a lousy 9 to 5 because schools basically destroy their creativity from early on. Most people think Accounting, or working at a Bank is their final destination. I think that’s why a lot of Neurodivergent people are so great at creative activities like drawing and writing. They don’t really get as boxed in, and don’t necessarily ‘conform’ as well, and so they actually get to express themselves. Students would always cast people like that out, and I really never understood it, because truthfully they were living a lot happier than we were. Read more>>

Donato Ricci

During my early days of my career I traveled and work in Europe, I spent about a year in Germany, while there I meet a young girl that used to come at the restaurant I was working. We became friends and some Of the conversations we had were on what she wanted to do when growing up, and something that impressed me very much considering she was only 15 years old was that she was so clear on the career path she wanted to pursue. Read more>>

Doug Murphy

In the end, everything comes down to money. It’s been a while since I’ve attended a school, other than life, but that being said, the educational system does not spend any time educating about how to handle and manage money as a mandatory piece of the curriculum. This is crucial in a couple of ways, one being time. Time is a large component to achieving the financial stability people desire through learning about compound interest early on. The trickle down effect of this strategy could change the world. Sounds like a big statement but the presumed outcome has this potential. Another is mental health, statistically money is one of the top 5 causes of divorce and suicide. Read more>>

Zoe Lamarche

I believe the path to fulfilment requires self-awareness, understanding our values, desires, and boundaries, and the ability to communicate these. Education should play a pivotal role in this discovery, and foster self-expression and expansive thinking to build towards knowledge and skill development. Instead, we are eroding, to the point of near extinction, creative and critical thinking in the education system. These are skills that need to be embedded into the core curriculum every step of the way. These include programs focused on languages, philosophy, arts, and social analysis. Creative and social arts expand our capacity for abstract thinking – a fundamental skill for network thinking, problem solving, and clear communication. Read more>>