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.

Lindsay Laws

To set students up for success, they need to be taught more basic life skills. Schools should offer more classes that will help them excel in areas of interest and aid them in choosing a suitable career for themselves. This is practiced in many European schools. This model brings more interest from the learner and they will be more likely to “want to learn”, rather than “have to learn”. Not all of us are going to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, or politicians. Of course, basics in mathematics, reading and language arts, science and history are all valuable subjects. However, I don’t agree with students being given so little to choose from when it comes to the classes they have to take, especially going into junior high and high school. Read more>>

Soraya Bowen

If I could change the education system, I would focus on integrating more real-world skills into the curriculum to better prepare students for both their careers and personal lives. This would include financial literacy, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. I believe students should also have more opportunities for hands-on learning, like internships, apprenticeships, and project-based work, starting from a younger age. Additionally, I would advocate for more personalized education paths, where students can explore their interests and strengths earlier on, helping them discover what they are passionate about and how they can translate that into a fulfilling career. Read more>>

Travis Byerly

The story of how I got into my career isn’t a very unique one. It’s becoming more and more common to hear about people who earn degrees in a specific field, only to pursue a career in something completely different after they graduate. I’ve been a photographer all my life and knew from a young age that I had a passion for taking photos, but I really lacked the encouragement and knowledge to turn it into a career. My parents and teachers nudged me toward business school, so, naively, I trusted that the system would provide the same return it did for them. Read more>>

Brittany Futrell

It’s funny because I was just having this discussion with someone at a food Institute. One thing I would change about the education system in this country is the nutrition they give to the children at public learning facilities and the education they give the children about growing their own food. I feel that the education system does not emphasize to the kids about how important it is to learn how to grow your own food, to be able to sustain their own health. Eating the best quality foods possible and maintaining your health helps you to prosper in all areas of your life. Read more>>