Bill Gates: US Secondary Schools are 'Obsolete'

[CG51]

Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates says U.S. secondary schools are "obsolete," and he warns that American students are not being educated to effectively face growing competition in the global economy.

Featured as the keynote speaker at a meeting of U.S. governors about the state of the country's high schools, Mr. Gates said Saturday that the American secondary education system has not changed substantially in the past 50 years, when schools were designed to meet the needs of a different age.

The billionaire philanthropist has donated more than $700 million to reinvent American high schools through his charitable foundation the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In a speech here in Washington, Mr. Gates said the United States ranks 16th out of 20 developed nations in the percentage of students who complete high school, and only 14th out of the top 20 in college graduation rates.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-27-voa14.cfm

[ZoneOne]

he's completely right

700mil - thats a lot of money too

[Zoomie]

he's completely right

700mil - thats a lot of money too
Maybe to you, but to him it's nothing. It's just a way he and Microsoft can avoid taxes.

[usm2b]

Well, Im behind him giving the money, and it'd be nice if he kept jobs here at home aswell.

[CG51]

Unfortunately, our competitors and potential rivals are teaching advanced math and science at grade school level. Most of our high school students learn basic math and little or no science. You see it now; a lot of programmers come here from overseas to fill the shortage.

[Seiyuuki]

Considering most schools are too busy letting students have "walk-out" to express their political view such as the latest anti-war movement instead of keeping their behinds in classes where they belong so they can learn. When they are in class, the bureaucrats running the school system are more concern about the students learning political correctness than the actual contents of their education.

[Bernardo]

Maybe to you, but to him it's nothing. It's just a way he and Microsoft can avoid taxes.

:bash: :bash:
You ignorant! I want to see you donate the same percentage of your net income as Bill Gates does! He might have a lot of money, but he does donate a lot of money, too. Would you rather have him NOT donate anything? :bash: I wonder sometimes, are people like you ever grateful for anything, especially if it comes from rich or famous or successfull people???

Bernardo

[szr]

IN with math and science OUT with music and art! (At least until our kids can do integrals and know what Boltzmann's constant is!) Too much feel-good-express-yourself crap is being taught in schools these days. Metaphysics didn't put Americans on the moon! Stop teaching it! The kids aren't going to burst into flames if they have to wait until college to fool around with those subjects... Kids aren't going to be able to get into college unless you teach them the important stuff first...

[samjung23]

I'm from another country, and I can see how poorly the math books here explain the material.

Back home, not only did I learn how to do complex math, I learned how to do it properly. In America, they just teach you how to do the basic concept, then throw these uber-complex problems at kids in the homework...I mean, wtf! All that does is force teachers to spend a week trying to solve these retarded problems instead of actively trying to learn more material properly.

Kids from back in my country, in fact, a lot of countries, go to university here and in Canada and just own. And my country is some little place in the Caribbean...it's a shame the wealthiest country in the world doesn't take education seriously...it's gonna bite us in the a$$ one day... :(

[Midav]

Considering most schools are too busy letting students have "walk-out" to express their political view such as the latest anti-war movement instead of keeping their behinds in classes where they belong so they can learn. When they are in class, the bureaucrats running the school system are more concern about the students learning political correctness than the actual contents of their education.

The same impression that I have.

[Michael RVR]

Maybe to you, but to him it's nothing. It's just a way he and Microsoft can avoid taxes.

:bash: :bash:
You ignorant! I want to see you donate the same percentage of your net income as Bill Gates does! He might have a lot of money, but he does donate a lot of money, too. Would you rather have him NOT donate anything? :bash: I wonder sometimes, are people like you ever grateful for anything, especially if it comes from rich or famous or successfull people???

Bernardo

Settle down, i actually think its both. Not only can it be a tax write off but if it does make a difference, in years to come it may well mean that money is saved by not having to train up staff as much as at least part of the training is done in schools.

;)

[vryhpyammoadded]

Unfortunately, our competitors and potential rivals are teaching advanced math and science at grade school level. Most of our high school students learn basic math and little or no science. You see it now; a lot of programmers come here from overseas to fill the shortage.

H1B visa slaves is so last week ;)

Actually the current MBA accounting shell game fad is off shoring.
An American would have to live in a cardboard box, on the street side, living off dung on what they pay the employees in Bangalore and Mumbai.
These guys are so cheap that companies are willing to bring them here, give them expensive training and certifications, even degrees and, send them back home. I’ve met many of these people in the states training for support engineers, programmers and even low level managers making salaries as low as 3K to 5K a year. Also friends over there setting up the offices and support networks confirm this.

Beware white collar America, your professional positions are turning into fat salary hikes and bonuses for your managers and CEOs and huge dividends for the shareholders while inflation eats away at your purchasing ability.

A poor American hard science and math education may be to blame for a tiny bit of this but mostly it is the fact Middle Class America isn’t really being listened too by the politicians growing fat off corporate baksheesh and favors.
If you don’t believe this then go join the military, get a technical position, train and perform well for a few years, even get a masters degree and some civilian certifications. I assure you that you will be superior in your position to most any other of your profession in the world. But, see how much your skills, training and experience compete against the 3K a year professional in Mumbai.

[Zoomie]

Maybe to you, but to him it's nothing. It's just a way he and Microsoft can avoid taxes.

:bash: :bash:
You ignorant! I want to see you donate the same percentage of your net income as Bill Gates does! He might have a lot of money, but he does donate a lot of money, too. Would you rather have him NOT donate anything? :bash: I wonder sometimes, are people like you ever grateful for anything, especially if it comes from rich or famous or successfull people???

Bernardo

:roll: Sheesh. Maybe if I were as affluent as Bill Gates is maybe I would. He's already set for life with the billions he already has. If he donates his entire salary every year to some charities or other "noble causes", he'd still be set for life. Gates donates to boost his ego trip as people go gaga over him. By the way, who are people like me?

[usm2b]

I've heard(cant confirm) that Bill Gates hasn't left anything to his kid/s in his will. All his fortune is going to various charities. So it seems that he might just be a person of good character...

[samjung23]

Maybe to you, but to him it's nothing. It's just a way he and Microsoft can avoid taxes.

:bash: :bash:
You ignorant! I want to see you donate the same percentage of your net income as Bill Gates does! He might have a lot of money, but he does donate a lot of money, too. Would you rather have him NOT donate anything? :bash: I wonder sometimes, are people like you ever grateful for anything, especially if it comes from rich or famous or successfull people???

Bernardo

:roll: Sheesh. Maybe if I were as affluent as Bill Gates is maybe I would. He's already set for life with the billions he already has. If he donates his entire salary every year to some charities or other "noble causes", he'd still be set for life. Gates donates to boost his ego trip as people go gaga over him. By the way, who are people like me?

Bill Gates could probably singlehandedly improve every public school in America with his money...at least curriculum wise.

Anyway, he probably thinks he's lord above all else because he has money...that happens you know...

[szr]

Anyway, he probably thinks he's lord above all else because he has money...that happens you know... :roll: Of all the hyper-rich people in the world, his personality probably reflects it the least of them all.

[jasonglh]

You should closely read his ideas for highschools. Basically in 9th grade you decide what career track you want and then all your classes revolve around that. Who in hell knew in 9th grade what career field that want to go into?

[samjung23]

I've heard(cant confirm) that Bill Gates hasn't left anything to his kid/s in his will. All his fortune is going to various charities. So it seems that he might just be a person of good character...

LOL!!!!

Do you guys even know this guy? usm2b and szr? I guarantee his kids will get his wealth AND MORE when he dies...and if not, they will certainly be way more privileged than any of you guys ever will be!

These people love top put up a dog and pony show to the public, but in the end, I guarantee his kids are going to be LOADED! As my parents said, yeah, he'll say that he won't give them any money now, but wait until they're older...besides, what, his kids will probably go to the finest private schools, make tons of contacts...trust me, they won't have to work for the rest of their lives!

Oh, and in regards to what certain people think about his character...please, just because these people donate money, they are not saints. They do that for tax write-offs and to improve their company's public image...which has suffered in light of allegations of anti-trust violations...Wal-Mart pulls this stunt too...

[samjung23]

Unfortunately, our competitors and potential rivals are teaching advanced math and science at grade school level. Most of our high school students learn basic math and little or no science. You see it now; a lot of programmers come here from overseas to fill the shortage.

H1B visa slaves is so last week ;)

Actually the current MBA accounting shell game fad is off shoring.
An American would have to live in a cardboard box, on the street side, living off dung on what they pay the employees in Bangalore and Mumbai.
These guys are so cheap that companies are willing to bring them here, give them expensive training and certifications, even degrees and, send them back home. I’ve met many of these people in the states training for support engineers, programmers and even low level managers making salaries as low as 3K to 5K a year. Also friends over there setting up the offices and support networks confirm this.

Beware white collar America, your professional positions are turning into fat salary hikes and bonuses for your managers and CEOs and huge dividends for the shareholders while inflation eats away at your purchasing ability.

A poor American hard science and math education may be to blame for a tiny bit of this but mostly it is the fact Middle Class America isn’t really being listened too by the politicians growing fat off corporate baksheesh and favors.
If you don’t believe this then go join the military, get a technical position, train and perform well for a few years, even get a masters degree and some civilian certifications. I assure you that you will be superior in your position to most any other of your profession in the world. But, see how much your skills, training and experience compete against the 3K a year professional in Mumbai.

This is too true.

America has to come down on these people. It's ridiculous, just plain thievery. These companies do nothing for the American economy by doing this. I have no idea why the government puts up with it.

[Kitsune]

@szr:

And what is Boltzmann's constant? ;)

[szr]

I guarantee...You guarantee? :lol: I'll take that guarantee and put it in my 'worthless stuff' collection. ;)

[szr]

@szr:

And what is Boltzmann's constant? ;)~1.38 × 10^-23 joules/degree kelvin

[Azide]

@szr:

And what is Boltzmann's constant? ;)~1.38 × 10^-23 joules/degree kelvin

:roll: So why must everyone know how to do ideal gas law eqations?

[HoboWithAK]

It is a shame what our schools are coming too. A lot has to do with the influence these idiot drug using gang bangers are pressing on normal, intelligent children. I say kick the little ****s out if they don't want to learn, because you can't force them to if they don't want to.

[samjung23]

It is a shame what our schools are coming too. A lot has to do with the influence these idiot drug using gang bangers are pressing on normal, intelligent children. I say kick the little ****s out if they don't want to learn, because you can't force them to if they don't want to.

Trust me, you have to put a lot of blame on the government. Gang bangers are everywhere...it's that our government isn't encouraging of a competent curriculum for students...

Do you know how many people in America chide me for reading the paper? Wow...it's like a big deal here...

[Jagr]

LOL!!!!

Do you guys even know this guy? usm2b and szr? I guarantee his kids will get his wealth AND MORE when he dies...and if not, they will certainly be way more privileged than any of you guys ever will be!

These people love top put up a dog and pony show to the public, but in the end, I guarantee his kids are going to be LOADED! As my parents said, yeah, he'll say that he won't give them any money now, but wait until they're older...besides, what, his kids will probably go to the finest private schools, make tons of contacts...trust me, they won't have to work for the rest of their lives!

Oh, and in regards to what certain people think about his character...please, just because these people donate money, they are not saints. They do that for tax write-offs and to improve their company's public image...which has suffered in light of allegations of anti-trust violations...Wal-Mart pulls this stunt too...

Just curious.. is your sentiment based on pure jeolously, or stupidity? You sound like you come frfom a long line of petty and jeolous people reading you post. Gates made his own money from the bottom up. He's a VERY smart guy and he took chances with a great idea (dropped out of school) and ran it well along with his partners...

Would I like to have 50 Billion dollars.. sure.. but do I think he should feel guilty about having it? hell no.. he made it..

He's also pretty sincere.. His charitable contributions from his foundation go a LOT further than 700 Million BTW.. that number was just what he gave to HIGH SCHOOLS...

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something with your life other than complaining about other peoples successes..