The education we deserve
The modern school system has significant flaws that hinder both students and teachers. To create a more effective and practical education system, several key reforms should be implemented.
First, student behavior and engagement must be addressed. Currently, teachers are often forced to tolerate disruptive and unmotivated students, which negatively impacts the learning environment for everyone. Teachers should have the authority to remove a student from their class without requiring administrative approval. If a student is removed, they must apply for admission to other classes. If no teachers accept them, they will be placed in a supervised learning environment where they complete coursework independently on computers until they achieve passing scores on all required subjects or find teachers willing to accept them. This ensures that students who wish to learn are not hindered by those who do not take their education seriously.
Second, the curriculum must be restructured to prioritize essential knowledge while making advanced topics optional. Many students are required to take excessive math and science courses that are neither needed nor appreciated. For instance, college business degrees often mandate calculus, despite its limited real-world application in business. Instead, essential math skills should be deeply embedded into education, ensuring students gain practical competency in arithmetic, algebra, and applied mathematics (e.g., Excel spreadsheets). Advanced math, such as calculus, should always be optional and available for students pursuing careers in engineering, physics, or related fields. Similarly, science education should focus more on science appreciation—understanding why complex formulas matter and how scientific principles shape the world rather than forcing students to memorize intricate details about cell walls or chemical reactions unless they have a direct interest or career path in those fields.
Finally, education should prepare students for three fundamental aspects of life: running a business, pursuing higher education, and developing trade skills. The reality is that most people will probably need to be able to succeed at all three at some point in their lives. Schools should integrate entrepreneurship courses, financial literacy, and trade skills alongside traditional academic subjects, ensuring students graduate with a well-rounded skill set that allows them to adapt to various career paths and economic shifts.
By implementing these changes, we can create an education system that fosters engagement, teaches practical knowledge, and prepares students for the diverse challenges they will face in their lifetime. Below is a humourous sketch with Abbott & Costello illustrating the result of the modern education system.
What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark H. McCormack
What They Teach You at Harvard Business School by Philip Delves Broughton
What They Still Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark H. McCormack
The first step to saving money in college is to take advantage of any programs offering college credit while in high school, dual enrollment, they may have CLEP exams available to high school students.
Florida bright futures scholarships are fantastic, GA also has a good program; many other states have good college scholarship programs for their residents. Requires at least 100 hours of either employment or community service, make sure to apply as soon as eligible; it has to be applied for the last semester of high school last time I checked.
If you pass 2 years of high school foreign language, that may cover 8 credits of foreign language in college and complete the requirement (though you may not get those credits in college and have to fill that space with something else.)
CLEP exams are great, they allow you to get credit for a class with less than 60% on the test; takes about 2 weeks to study for most of them and cost about $100.
Valencia college is one of the best community colleges in the nation and they have bachelors in business, engineering and some medical bachelor’s degrees (see their website for current offerings.)
UTPB has the cheapest MBA program in the country and FAMU Law has the cheapest law school in the country. If youre not going to Harvard or some other prestigious school, maybe a locally prestigious school; then its just as good to have any accredited degree in the field.
If you dont have a lot of money and dont qualify for financial aid like PELL grants, you can take 2 classes a semester and finish in 7 years and its only about $670 every 4 months (using summer semester.) I prefer avoiding 7-8 week courses, less is taught and just as much is expected of you. Online classes have made college a less social place, but it was still too anti-social in the days before online classes were so prevalent; most of the socialization occurred on drunken parties that I dont encourage.
Some high school certification exams such as the ESB (entrepreneurship small business) exam and various technical software certifications may offer college credits for passing.
Once you have an idea of the direction you want your carer to go once you are in college, it is a good idea to seek out relative internships; some may offer pay or even money for tuition. This helps get your foot in the door, most jobs require relevant experience..
Ive had multiple mentors in art, sales, philosophy, business, and other areas, and their impact on my life has been invaluable. I firmly believe that anyone seeking growth should actively look for a mentor. As someone who has benefited greatly from mentorship, I hope to one day mentor someone who, like my younger self, has a hunger for growth and a desire to excel. Unfortunately, my closest opportunity to mentor someone was with a person who lacked a genuine thirst for knowledge. My hope is that they will one day discover that drive and seek guidance in their areas of interest.
A realistic mentor should ideally be 3 to 10 times ahead of you in a relative sense. For example, if you have $100,000 in assets, consider finding a mentor with $1 million in assets. If you can sell a $20,000 car, seek guidance from someone who sells $60,000 cars; as you progress, you might aim for mentorship from someone selling Ferrari's. Similarly, if your artwork sells for $300, look for a mentor whose art sells for $3,000. I've often mused about a 'pay it forward' and pyramid mentoring, where great men would find a person to mentor full time each year and provide continued advice as needed afterwards while mentoring someone else; their mentee's would follow this by mentoring someone themselves. In 10 years, someone of great achievement may mentor 10 people and each of their mentee's would mentor someone each year for 10 years and so on. At the 10 year mark, I thought it would be hundreds; according to ChatGPT it was 1023!
In bodybuilding, if you're competing at the state level, a national champion might not be open to mentoring you. However, a former national champion or a top-10 national competitor could be an excellent mentor. Interestingly, even top athletes who compete against one another often share advice, recognizing that helping others grow can push their own limits in the long run. For entrepreneurs, if you own a local restaurant, consider seeking mentorship from someone who owns a small chain of restaurants or a successful high-end establishment. The key is finding someone who shares a common understanding of your challenges and aspirations while being far enough ahead to provide valuable perspective. Don't overlook mentors who may not have flashy success but offer real-world experience and accessibility. Their grounded perspective can often be more practical and actionable.One of the greatest examples of mentorship is Cus DAmato, who discovered and mentored a young Mike Tyson. After Tyson was knocked out in his first fight at the age of 13, Cus, recognizing his potential, declared, If hes 13, hes going to be the next heavyweight champion of the world. Over the following years, Cus imparted not only his extensive boxing knowledge (having trained several champions before) but also built Tysons confidence and character. Had DAmato lived longer, Tysons journey might have been smoother.
Simon Squibb made a video of his 30 Years of Business Knowledge in 2hrs 26mins and stated on 'how to get a mentor': 1.research what matters to that person. 2. ask a question and define what you want. 3. Consider asking them to be on your advisory board (rather than mentor) 4. Connect to people connected to them (if they refer you, that's powerful; but don't be disingenuous.) 5. Give value to them.