Mom! Hurry. I'm going to be late for iSchool.

One of the big topics in American society right now is the public school system, or more specifically school choice, school performance, and the failing of American students compared to their competitors in other countries of the world. 

Political parties, unions, and concerned parents alike will clammor, fight, and lobby for what we historically have done since the Great Depression.  Throw government money into the sinkhole that is the public education system.  Granted I am a little biased when it comes to public school, because I am a product of it.  Sadly, I can't hold a candle to my brother and sister who were homeschooled.   

So.  What do we do.  Continue to do the same thing and expect a different result?  I have a better idea.  Instead of turning to the government for help (because they've done such a great job with the post office) why not turn to an institution that generally has lead America to become a world leader in the first place.  Business and capitalism. Lets have schools for profit. 

Sadly, I can't take credit for this, because it has been tried.  In the 1990, the largest of the "For Profit Schools" was Edison Schools.  Now not to get into all the details, they had a rocky beginning and they obviously haven't been very impactful, because many of us haven't heard of them.  Implementation costs to get the schools off and running were high and there were questions about their effectiveness.   

While pondering this last night I got to thinking....what makes America great?  Besides Hot Dogs, mom, and Jeeps.  Everything.  We are exceptional.  Unlike our current President, I believe that American exceptionalism has been a motivator for advancments in technology, morality, and  standards of living.  With that said, imagine what a school run by Apple, Microsoft, or Sony would look like.  I'm thinking the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.  Think of the tech.  Think of the resources that successful businesses can bring to the realm of Public education.  As for questions about their effectiveness, how many businesses hit it out of the park their first year in business, or their first 15 years for that matter?  We shouldn't give up.  Thank goodness Thomas Edison didn't give up after his first attempt with the light bulb. Ronald Reagan once said, "we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams".  Right now, with "No Child Left Behind" school's effectiveness is decided by test scores.  As a teacher, I know that students testing doesn't always reflect student ability.  Thats a small dream.  Do we really want students that test well, or do we want students that will spend the rest of their life learning?  I for one, want students that will one day be productive citizens in an exceptional society.

How does a business measure effectiveness?  The Bottom Line.  If it isn't profitable, then it is changed or dropped.  Lets pretend that a large successful business starts a school with a specilization in technology and robotics.  Their not in the school business to change society.  They are in the business to transmit society.  To make future businessmen or engineers.  To make a profit, both at the end of the year, and twenty years down the road when these students are in the workforce.  In order to stay profitable, they need parents to bring and keep their students in school.  So, if you were dependent on parents for your livelihood, and not the state or unions, what would you do.  You would hire the best teachers and fire the bad ones.  You would provide the best resources and research.  At the end of the year, your effectiveness would be decided by next years enrollment.  One of the things I've learned over the years is there is no one more invested in the education of a child than the child's parents.  If they don't see improvement with their children, they don't enroll again.  Capitalism at work is a beautiful thing.

I know some may argue that not every parent can be as envolved in their children's education or afford to pay to have their children go to a "For Profit School."  You can also make the point that there have been businesses in the recent past that have been unethical.  That's true.  There will never be a perfect system.  I personlly am a big fan of homeschooling, and it isn't perfect.  I'm not advocating that this become the only school in America.  What I am saying, is that for those who can and who want that "choice", putting the power of the American businessman and entrepreneur behind education is a great option.