Comments on: The Triple Convergence

Comments on: The Triple Convergence http://stratereaders.kucrl.org/2006/09/28/the-triple-convergence/ A Book Discussion Group Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:15:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Sue Woodruff http://stratereaders.kucrl.org/2006/09/28/the-triple-convergence/#comment-32 Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:57:48 +0000 http://stratereaders.kucrl.org/2006/09/28/the-triple-convergence/#comment-32 "It is about creating new opportunities..." This convergence idea really provokes some thought. At first, I applied that thought to the obvious. Friedman gives example after example of opportunities that have been created in different parts of our country (Salt Lake City housewives) and abroad where traditionally there had not been lots of opportunities for marginalized groups. As Americans, we hear continually about how our opportunities are going overseas, and there is a lot of angst among the adult American population right now. Rajesh talks about Americans whining, but I think it is fear. I was talking with a friend today who was the first child in the family to graduate from college. None of her brothers or sisters went to college. Her brother, now at the age of 52, is unable to find a job. He was hired in sales for a uniform company about 10 years ago. He made a good salary and commission. Then a few years later he was told that he would also have to drive a truck and deliver uniforms AND sell. His pay was cut at that time. Now - he has been demoted again. Basically, he was told that he would be delivering uniforms, selling, and working for commission only. My friend was talking about fears that eventually her entire family will be living with her - like in the movie Dr. Zhivago when they went back to the house and several extended families were living in the house. Think about it - with industry leaving and rules-based jobs going to computers, there probably just isn't as much of a market for uniforms. This story is happening over, and over, and over again. Instead of reacting with fear, we, as educators must jump on this and think about how we can make opportunities for our students. We must be advocates for public education. We need to get the public's attention, and we must work together as partners to help our kids become expert thinkers and problem solvers. “It is about creating new opportunities…” This convergence idea really provokes some thought. At first, I applied that thought to the obvious. Friedman gives example after example of opportunities that have been created in different parts of our country (Salt Lake City housewives) and abroad where traditionally there had not been lots of opportunities for marginalized groups. As Americans, we hear continually about how our opportunities are going overseas, and there is a lot of angst among the adult American population right now. Rajesh talks about Americans whining, but I think it is fear. I was talking with a friend today who was the first child in the family to graduate from college. None of her brothers or sisters went to college. Her brother, now at the age of 52, is unable to find a job. He was hired in sales for a uniform company about 10 years ago. He made a good salary and commission. Then a few years later he was told that he would also have to drive a truck and deliver uniforms AND sell. His pay was cut at that time. Now - he has been demoted again. Basically, he was told that he would be delivering uniforms, selling, and working for commission only. My friend was talking about fears that eventually her entire family will be living with her - like in the movie Dr. Zhivago when they went back to the house and several extended families were living in the house. Think about it - with industry leaving and rules-based jobs going to computers, there probably just isn’t as much of a market for uniforms. This story is happening over, and over, and over again. Instead of reacting with fear, we, as educators must jump on this and think about how we can make opportunities for our students. We must be advocates for public education. We need to get the public’s attention, and we must work together as partners to help our kids become expert thinkers and problem solvers.

]]> by: Mandy Horton http://stratereaders.kucrl.org/2006/09/28/the-triple-convergence/#comment-27 Sat, 30 Sep 2006 10:50:40 +0000 http://stratereaders.kucrl.org/2006/09/28/the-triple-convergence/#comment-27 Hello, Rajesh also talked about "Americans whining---we have never seen that before," (page 223). He pointed out how hungry the rising stars or "players" have been, how that hunger has fed their drive to excel. It IS amazing how the world has opened up opportunities for freedom of the masses and self-liberation since the fall of the Wall. How ironic that our President made the challenge to tear down that symbol of oppression, yet while that has been happening, we have been all about busily bemoaning our own set of oppressive problems to such an extent that we fail to see what is going on around us. How much wiser it would be to see our American situation as a glass half full in terms of the opportunities to collaborate with the very masses of peoples that our President encouraged towards self-liberation by his wake up call. Friedman's book is really a wake up call to us, nationally and individually. I can also relate to the quote about "nobody wanted to tell the kids" (page 232). It IS scary to innnovate in public where all the mistakes are witnessed and far-out ideas are ridiculed or ignored. Yet, innovation is our driving force in the USA, which is how we can fill that glass. This book is very exciting reading! Thanks, again for opening this blog. Hello,

Rajesh also talked about “Americans whining—we have never seen that before,” (page 223). He pointed out how hungry the rising stars or “players” have been, how that hunger has fed their drive to excel. It IS amazing how the world has opened up opportunities for freedom of the masses and self-liberation since the fall of the Wall.

How ironic that our President made the challenge to tear down that symbol of oppression, yet while that has been happening, we have been all about busily bemoaning our own set of oppressive problems to such an extent that we fail to see what is going on around us. How much wiser it would be to see our American situation as a glass half full in terms of the opportunities to collaborate with the very masses of peoples that our President encouraged towards self-liberation by his wake up call.

Friedman’s book is really a wake up call to us, nationally and individually.

I can also relate to the quote about “nobody wanted to tell the kids” (page 232). It IS scary to innnovate in public where all the mistakes are witnessed and far-out ideas are ridiculed or ignored. Yet, innovation is our driving force in the USA, which is how we can fill that glass. This book is very exciting reading!

Thanks, again for opening this blog.

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