Idealist on the rampage
Here are three e-mails I sent tonight.
Dear Ms. Allen,
I'm not sure if you're the right person to be writing about this, but if not could you please forward this note to the correct party? I'm interested in
reaching someone in charge of policy at the Washtenaw public school system.
I keep hearing about how the quality of education in the United States is continually being degraded by public policies that concentrate on number of graduates rather than quality of graduates. I also keep hearing that this is because teachers are not paid salaries commensurate with their qualifications, and thus find work elsewhere. And I wonder if this is true or if it's all bunk.
I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I went to Warren High School, was a member of the last graduating class before the school was demolished. I now hold three engineering and science degrees from the University of Michigan and am about to finish my PhD. And I wonder. Could I be hired by the public school system here? Do they want qualified teachers, or just teachers who will do anything to keep their jobs, including passing unqualified students for the sake of school statistics.
A friend of mine recently got a job teaching science classes at Eastern Michigan University and he told me that an appalling number of his students couldn't read well enough to pass his class. Before that I always thought the "failing school system" was at worst half fact and half hype, but it really drove home to me that things aren't where they should be. Another friend is now teaching at the high school level in Rochester, New York, and she said the same thing. The students actually get angry at her when she expects them to work for a good grade.
Most of the people sharing the lab with me are of Far Eastern descent, and intend to go back to China, India, Taiwan, or Korea when they graduate. Is this just patriotism on their parts, or the lack of reasonable jobs here?
I have a strong interest in the quality of education in this country, in particular in Michigan. As a Michigan native, I hate seeing our economy trailing that of most other states, but as a graduating PhD student I find that quality jobs simply don't exist here. I want to give something back to the state that raised me, but I'm not sure how. Educating the next generation seems a good way, but is that even possible in this "No Child Left Behind" climate of "everyone's wonderful, even if they can't read"?
So please tell me: are our teachers still the best and brightest, or simply those who "can't do"?
Sincerely,
Me
To Mr. Obama or a designated staffer:
I am a reluctant Democrat, an idealist, and a current supporter of your bid for the Office of the President. I like what I've seen of you so far. Your speeches are inspiring. Your break from "politics as usual" is refreshing. And your victory is groundbreaking.
I worry, however, about what you'll do next. I wonder if you mean what you say, or if you say it only out of a genius of image rather than true belief. I want to believe that one man can make a positive difference in the direction of this country, and that you're that man. I want to believe that you can do the things you say you'll do.
A slight digression into *my* beliefs: I'm a social liberal, a fiscal and foreign policy conservative. I think that people should generally be free to do what they think best so long as it harms nobody beyond themselves. I also think the business of Americans is America, not Israel or Iraq or Cuba. I'm not a "close the borders" xenophobe, but do not believe it is the place of this country to be the police force of the world.
That said, I hope you're the man to put this country back on the right track. And I hope that you'll do so without caving in to the politics of the hour.
Now that you've won the nomination of the party, I continually hear one question: "Will Obama pick Hillary as a running-mate?" In no uncertain terms, I'd like to state that this is a BAD idea! Her entire campaign screams to the skies "Politics As Usual!" She is a product of the system. She is the embodiment of the two-party duality that says different things but does the same. She is an anchor your campaign cannot afford.
I intend, at this moment, to vote for you in November. But if you pick Hillary as a running-mate, you state very clearly that you'll do anything to win. You say that you're "that guy", the one who, despite his ideals, conforms for the sake of victory and thus becomes the enemy of all that he espouses. If you pick Ms. Clinton as your partner in your bid for the presidency, I and many of my friends will have to consider long and hard if you're the man you seem to be, and if you're someone we can vote for. I am, as I said, an idealist, and I'd rather vote for a third-party candidate I can believe in, even if he has no real chance to win, than a person who shows me that at crunch time he'll do the prudent thing rather than the right thing.
I know I'm only one voice among a multitude, but please consider what I've said when you make your decision.
Sincerely,
Me
To the Governor or appropriate staffer:
I'm a PhD student very close to graduation in the University of Michigan College of Engineering. I have a broad base of skills and experience including software engineering, nanotechnology, and space science. I would like to stay in this state, but am not sure it will be possible.
I have heard many things about how Michigan is going to become the next hub for nanotechnology, how our PhD graduates should lead rather than follow. But I have not seen much to enable that philosophy. What I have heard from recent success stories is that in order to succeed one must leave Michigan. Even those who wish to stay here are forced to go to California in order to find the funding they need to keep their fledgling companies afloat.
I understand that it is bad business and bad politics to throw money at a losing proposition, but the only way to turn a good idea into a success story is to keep it alive, which means funding. It may be that in five or ten years Michigan may be that mecca of nanotech that I hear about, but at this moment it does not seem to be the case.
I have friends starting companies, and they are struggling. I have looked into working for existing companies, but they'd rather hire a tech with a bachelor's degree and 10 years of experience than a PhD with five. The allure of entrepreneurship is not alive in Michigan, and the support for existing companies is minimal. It is likely that I will have to leave this state to either find a decent job or form a successful company of my own, and I find that sad. Is there nothing that can be done to make Michigan competitive again? Do we have to live with a continual brain-drain to other states or countries?
There are many programs aimed at making Michigan great again in technology, but from what I have seen none of them are adequately funded or targeted. If the money does not flow, the jobs will migrate to more fertile pastures. And the talent will migrate with them.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help, or if there are any opportunities I have missed. I am in the most progressive location in the state, graduating from its greatest technical school, and can not find a reason to stay here despite looking very hard.
Thank you for your attention,
Me
I've done what I can.
Dear Ms. Allen,
I'm not sure if you're the right person to be writing about this, but if not could you please forward this note to the correct party? I'm interested in
reaching someone in charge of policy at the Washtenaw public school system.
I keep hearing about how the quality of education in the United States is continually being degraded by public policies that concentrate on number of graduates rather than quality of graduates. I also keep hearing that this is because teachers are not paid salaries commensurate with their qualifications, and thus find work elsewhere. And I wonder if this is true or if it's all bunk.
I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I went to Warren High School, was a member of the last graduating class before the school was demolished. I now hold three engineering and science degrees from the University of Michigan and am about to finish my PhD. And I wonder. Could I be hired by the public school system here? Do they want qualified teachers, or just teachers who will do anything to keep their jobs, including passing unqualified students for the sake of school statistics.
A friend of mine recently got a job teaching science classes at Eastern Michigan University and he told me that an appalling number of his students couldn't read well enough to pass his class. Before that I always thought the "failing school system" was at worst half fact and half hype, but it really drove home to me that things aren't where they should be. Another friend is now teaching at the high school level in Rochester, New York, and she said the same thing. The students actually get angry at her when she expects them to work for a good grade.
Most of the people sharing the lab with me are of Far Eastern descent, and intend to go back to China, India, Taiwan, or Korea when they graduate. Is this just patriotism on their parts, or the lack of reasonable jobs here?
I have a strong interest in the quality of education in this country, in particular in Michigan. As a Michigan native, I hate seeing our economy trailing that of most other states, but as a graduating PhD student I find that quality jobs simply don't exist here. I want to give something back to the state that raised me, but I'm not sure how. Educating the next generation seems a good way, but is that even possible in this "No Child Left Behind" climate of "everyone's wonderful, even if they can't read"?
So please tell me: are our teachers still the best and brightest, or simply those who "can't do"?
Sincerely,
Me
To Mr. Obama or a designated staffer:
I am a reluctant Democrat, an idealist, and a current supporter of your bid for the Office of the President. I like what I've seen of you so far. Your speeches are inspiring. Your break from "politics as usual" is refreshing. And your victory is groundbreaking.
I worry, however, about what you'll do next. I wonder if you mean what you say, or if you say it only out of a genius of image rather than true belief. I want to believe that one man can make a positive difference in the direction of this country, and that you're that man. I want to believe that you can do the things you say you'll do.
A slight digression into *my* beliefs: I'm a social liberal, a fiscal and foreign policy conservative. I think that people should generally be free to do what they think best so long as it harms nobody beyond themselves. I also think the business of Americans is America, not Israel or Iraq or Cuba. I'm not a "close the borders" xenophobe, but do not believe it is the place of this country to be the police force of the world.
That said, I hope you're the man to put this country back on the right track. And I hope that you'll do so without caving in to the politics of the hour.
Now that you've won the nomination of the party, I continually hear one question: "Will Obama pick Hillary as a running-mate?" In no uncertain terms, I'd like to state that this is a BAD idea! Her entire campaign screams to the skies "Politics As Usual!" She is a product of the system. She is the embodiment of the two-party duality that says different things but does the same. She is an anchor your campaign cannot afford.
I intend, at this moment, to vote for you in November. But if you pick Hillary as a running-mate, you state very clearly that you'll do anything to win. You say that you're "that guy", the one who, despite his ideals, conforms for the sake of victory and thus becomes the enemy of all that he espouses. If you pick Ms. Clinton as your partner in your bid for the presidency, I and many of my friends will have to consider long and hard if you're the man you seem to be, and if you're someone we can vote for. I am, as I said, an idealist, and I'd rather vote for a third-party candidate I can believe in, even if he has no real chance to win, than a person who shows me that at crunch time he'll do the prudent thing rather than the right thing.
I know I'm only one voice among a multitude, but please consider what I've said when you make your decision.
Sincerely,
Me
To the Governor or appropriate staffer:
I'm a PhD student very close to graduation in the University of Michigan College of Engineering. I have a broad base of skills and experience including software engineering, nanotechnology, and space science. I would like to stay in this state, but am not sure it will be possible.
I have heard many things about how Michigan is going to become the next hub for nanotechnology, how our PhD graduates should lead rather than follow. But I have not seen much to enable that philosophy. What I have heard from recent success stories is that in order to succeed one must leave Michigan. Even those who wish to stay here are forced to go to California in order to find the funding they need to keep their fledgling companies afloat.
I understand that it is bad business and bad politics to throw money at a losing proposition, but the only way to turn a good idea into a success story is to keep it alive, which means funding. It may be that in five or ten years Michigan may be that mecca of nanotech that I hear about, but at this moment it does not seem to be the case.
I have friends starting companies, and they are struggling. I have looked into working for existing companies, but they'd rather hire a tech with a bachelor's degree and 10 years of experience than a PhD with five. The allure of entrepreneurship is not alive in Michigan, and the support for existing companies is minimal. It is likely that I will have to leave this state to either find a decent job or form a successful company of my own, and I find that sad. Is there nothing that can be done to make Michigan competitive again? Do we have to live with a continual brain-drain to other states or countries?
There are many programs aimed at making Michigan great again in technology, but from what I have seen none of them are adequately funded or targeted. If the money does not flow, the jobs will migrate to more fertile pastures. And the talent will migrate with them.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help, or if there are any opportunities I have missed. I am in the most progressive location in the state, graduating from its greatest technical school, and can not find a reason to stay here despite looking very hard.
Thank you for your attention,
Me
I've done what I can.