The premise of this essay is presented in admirably concise form: "what creates! the best capital? Answer: An educated populace."

The supporting evidence, however, strikes me as somewhat lacking:

1) A web page listing seven reasons why education is supposed to be important. The first four reasons given are backed up by correlations, not causations: the positive outcomes could easily have other causes which happen to correlate with education, e.g. family wealth leading to better education (rather than the other way around). The next two are not backed up by anything, they are just claims offered without evidence. The last one simply states the funding needed to achieve "EFA goals" and does not even pretend to belong in the list.

2) Another web page invoked to show that "education generates the innovation (physical and social) that creates an abundant future for everyone." On inspection, the page in question turns out to be about the benefits of entrepreneurship and, consequently, of entrepreneurship education. To the extent that any relationship to general education can be inferred from that page, it runs in reverse: entrepreneurship education is noted to improve academic performance and interest in attending college.

3) Yet another web page listing factoids which either prove nothing either way (e.g. "about 61 million primary school aged children are out of school") or make claims of causation while only offering correlations as "proof" (see above).

I think it's possible to do a little better than this. The question how education increases human capital has been the subject of serious studies. Here are a few well known examples:

- In Where has all the education gone?, Lant Pritchett found that "the association of educational capital growth with conventional measures of total factor production is large, strongly statistically significant, and negative".

- In Does Education Matter? Myths about Education and Economic Growth, Alison Wolf found that higher public expenditure on education reduces economic growth.

- In Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much, Richard Vedder showed that the economies of US states which spent less on their universities grew faster than the economies of those which spent more.

Many others have repeatedly pointed out that the economy is not exactly screaming for more graduates. So how exactly would it be helped by having even more?

    Judy,

    A brave subject to broach. I wonder if the most important question you pose is who decides in you abstract: the criteria, the goals, and termination, for example. Eugenics, I see as only one consideration in steering the future. The big considerations, I see, are how we determine who steers, what the goal is and how we get there.

    My essay has solutions but not necessarily how to get there.

    Jim

    Don,

    For most part I agree with you. The best educated populace is certainly the answer to many failings of our system. Better educated citizens vote intelligently and don't allow opportunistic slugs to lead us and don't allow the economic system to award personhood to the most powerful corporations, thus assuring the majority is trumped in all decisionmaking. The educated can provide an informed consensus in guiding our future and can build scientific solutions to do it greener.

    My only disagreement is that teaching methods, technologies should not be market driven, but do agree that commitment and monetary support of education needs to be removed from the "invisible hand." I not sure what you mean by the former but you probably see that the latter has been driven by sterile investors who want to make money by privatizing education. It has been a failure.

    Like you, I see education as a vital investment in people, who are the lifeblood of our future.

    Jim

      Don,

      I have now rated your essay! Good luck!

      As I mentioned in my earlier post, I think it is important to motivate people to invest time in their education, and I like your proposal to pay students. You write

      The recipient need not sign up for classes, but must be enrolled in a school to get a check.

      You take a "no pressure" approach, but can it be effective? Would most people just enroll with no real intention to actually learn anything in the process?

      Marc

        Hi Judy,

        Thanks for your support. This was a much tougher essay than the others. I could not put concepts into mathematical form, and say see, see my concept is true. A recent book I read "How the Scotts Invented the Modern World" pointed out how the Scotts were ahead of other nations in literacy, and how this powered a tiny nation to lead the world to higher levels of prosperity. However, the Scotts who were very influential to the forming of the USA did not make education "fundamental" and lost their edge in the 20th century.

        I look forward to reading your essay,

        Don Limuti

        James,

        I agree with you completely. However, I think you missed my intent. I want to turn Social Security into education, but not in a burdensome way. Let's say that right now you are collecting Social Security and using it to pay for food and shelter, nothing changes with my plan except now the recipient of "Social Security" has the opportunity to enroll in classes of their choosing. They are not forced to take classes, it is their choice. They collect a check just as before, but now they have the option of enriching their lives. To boot, they can say they are receiving a scholarship instead of collecting Social Security. The result may be the same, but the context is much better (IMHO).

        Thanks for visiting my blog.

        Don Limuti

        Hi Rick and James,

        I singled out Ronald Reagan, because of his actions regarding education in the state of California. Personally I do not think he had much of a choice in the matter, the voters twisted his arm.

        When it comes to Politics, I think it is best to make evaluations based on "unselfish motives". From my viewpoint both parties have a good deal of posturing and selfishness.

        Perhaps the next essay contest should be "The Physics of Politics"

        Thanks for visiting,

        Don Limuti

        Hi Edwin and Marc,

        Edwin: I think we are closer in approach than you think. I would like to replace social security, welfare, and unemployment with an education mandate.

        Marc: I see the education mandate as similar to the military mandate. The military in the US always has funding support, but how it is spent is up for debate. I would like to see education in the US as always having funding support, but how it is spent is up for debate. With a super literate, super technical, and super philosophical (spiritual/religious if you like) the military role may evolve in ways that are less warlike.

        Thanks for visiting,

        Don Limuti

        Hi Wilhelmus,

        Education for youth is a priority. I would like to make education for everybody a priority.

        I am going to enroll in your course of Consciousness 101, but first I need to read your essay.

        Good to see you in another contest,

        Don Limuti

        Hi Georgina,

        GOOD TO SEE YOU IN ANOTHER CONTEST. THANKS FOR VISITING MY BLOG. I AM WRITING IN CAPS TO CONTRAST WITH YOUR COMMENTS. SEE BELOW.

        Sensible suggestions though I wonder about whether all unemployed would want more education.

        MY INTENT IS THAT TAKING COURSES IS VOLUNTARY, AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR YOU CAN RECEIVE THE EDUCATION STIPEND IF YOU ARE ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL.

        There may well be school drop outs and those that did badly in the education system.

        SCHOOL DROPOUTS AND FAILURE IS A CRIME PERPETRATED BY THE CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM!

        The type of schooling would have to be very different.

        YES, INDEED!

        I'm not sure the Apple model could be scaled up.

        I'M NOT SURE EITHER, BUT IT IS WORTH SERIOUS THOUGHT

        Though it sounds very good. There really has to be motivation to learn and minimum wage jobs still need doing.

        IF THE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ARE APPROPRIATE, THERE WILL BE MOTIVATION. MINIMUM WAGE JOBS WILL GO AWAY...AND GOOD RIDDANCE. THE JOBS WILL GET DONE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT THEY WILL PAY MORE.

        Also more education does not necessarily create more suitable jobs and then there are graduates who can't find suitable work and end up unemployed or in minimum wage jobs anyway.

        THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IS NOT TO CREATE JOBS, IT IS TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE JOBS CAN EMERGE.

        The advantage of your proposition is that they don't also have a large debt to repay from receiving a student loan.

        I THINK THIS IS ONE OF MANY ADVANTAGES.

        GOOD TO SEE YOU IN ANOTHER CONTEST, LOOK FORWARD READING YOUR ESSAY,

        DON LIMUTI

        Dear KoGuan,

        Thank you, thank you, and thank you! You have the spirit.

        I look forward to reading your essay.

        Don Limuti

        don

        Education does not come in tots or even gallons-education is imeasurable and should impart knowledge .Education is key to alleviating all our problems for we better uniderstand our environment.Nice essay there alt of wise words to quote.I also have something to add in my essay LIVING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE SUN: REALITIES, PERILS ESCAPADES MAN, PLANET AND KARDASHEV SCALE.MAKING THE GREAT TRANSITION by Michael muteru on the weblink http://fqxi.org/community/forum/topic/2101.kindly take your precious time to rate/review the essay .all the best

          Hi Turil,

          Your concept of: open-ended work~play~education spaces that welcome all ages, types, and interests of humans (and others!) is certainly worthwhile. I would like to see it as part of what is supported by an education mandate along with more formal education structures. Perhaps you intend that the open ended system should not be supported by any formal organization in that this would stifle the creative process. There is always this option, at least in an open society. What form of education is better or more productive... I do not know. We should be scientists and investigate many alternatives.

          I assume "others" means elephants and donkeys :)

          Thanks for visiting,

          Don Limuti

          Hi Turil,

          The weblogic that controls this blog is very strange. It seems that many people cannot rate my essay, and the logoff times vary enough to make author posts iffy. Here is the post again.

          Your concept of: open-ended work~play~education spaces that welcome all ages, types, and interests of humans (and others!) is certainly worthwhile. I would like to see it as part of what is supported by an education mandate along with more formal education structures. Perhaps you intend that the open ended system should not be supported by any formal organization in that this would stifle the creative process. There is always this option, at least in an open society. What form of education is better or more productive... I do not know. We should be scientists and investigate many alternatives.

          I assume "others" means elephants and donkeys :)

          Thanks for visiting,

          Don Limuti

          Hi again Joe,

          I wanted to add that I too am frustrated with the current education system. I was considering graduate school to get a degree in physics. I decided against this because it would put me in a position of having to agree to concepts about quantum mechanics that I knew to be incorrect.

          Lying propaganda may be a little strong, but not far from the mark. I would like that you could keep your morals and not fear that school would destroy them.

          Peer review is basically a good idea, but it has its limits that are best described by Mark Twain. What we know for sure that just ain't so is what gets us into trouble.

          Thanks for visiting and best of luck,

          Don Limuti

          Hi Peter,

          Or should I say Hi Jedi prince. I look forward to reading your essay.

          Thanks for the kind remarks.

          Don Limuti

          Hi Hoang,

          Yes, that is what I am after.... maximum profit for the future. My frustration is that I cannot make it an ironclad argument that is obvious to all.

          Thank you, and I look forward to reading your essay.

          Don Limuti

          Hi Tommy,

          You caught me! I did my best but logically cannot nail down to everyones satisfaction the importance of education. All my logic and intuition says that the continuing education of all people should be top priority. The elitist school systems of the UK are second rate to the more inclusive university systems of the US. Unfortunately the US is trying more and more to imitate the UK.

          Here is my response to your web links:

          1. Where has all the education gone?

          YOU FORGOT TO MENTION THE SEVERAL IMPORTANT CAVEATS THAT PRITCHETT LISTS

          2. Does Education Matter:

          The conclusion of this devastating book is that a large proportion of the billions poured into vocational training and university provision might be better spent on teaching the basics at primary school.

          YES, EDUCATION DOES MATTER.

          3. Going Broke by Degree:

          THIS LOGICAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN A COLLEGE DEGREE IS NOT WORTH IT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC VIEWPOINT. YES, SPENDING $400,000 ON A DEGREE IN ART DURING THE JURASSIC PERIOD MAY NOT GIVE A MONETARY RETURN. STATISTICS CAN BE STUPID.

          Perhaps we are both making a case for what we intuitively believe is the truth. I like mine better.

          Thanks for visiting and best of luck,

          Don Limuti

          Hi Jim,

          Good to see you in the contest. What I mean by market driven when it comes to what is offered in education, is that the government does not have a monopoly on deciding what is important. What is educationally offered is what is desired by individuals.... if enough individuals want a course of study it will be offered. Many will make choices that they believe will enhance their economic potential and give them credentials. Others many take courses to improve their health. Others may want to improve their gaming and collaboration skills. Still others may want to organize against corporation dominance in election politics. Others will work on making the earth a sustainable place to live. Others may want to study consciousness, philosophy, religion, physics etc, etc.

          Market driven is not necessarily a negative concept. People driven may be a better nomenclature.

          Look forward to reading your essay,

          Don Limuti

          • [deleted]

          • Post #46

          Hi Marc,

          Thanks for visiting and voting.

          Your question: "Would most people just enroll with no real intention to actually learn anything in the process?" Is the most to the point question.

          Yes, I believe people will just enroll to get the check. If a person has medical issues and is in a hospice, there is nothing wrong with getting the check. But we have given them the right to play the education game for as long as they can.

          If a family is in dire straits and homeless, they may just take the check buy food and worry....but the option of taking classes for free is there.

          If a young person wants to race cars, they may just take the check and buy a computerized suspension, but the path is open to learn about computerized suspensions and collaborate with others perhaps to start a business.

          If a person is interested in criminal activity then they could take the check and proceed to do their criminal thing and suffer the usually bad consequences (and loose the education mandate), but a door is open that has never been open before, to use their energy to get a better outlook on life via education.

          Most people would see the advantage of a new pain free (high quality) education system and feel grateful to use the skills and new friends to build a very prosperous future.

          Thanks again, and I look forward to reading your essay,

          Don Limuti