One of the by-products of a change in health care policy will be the need for more doctors because there will be a significantly larger number of people seeking care. However,in this country we are experiencing a doctor shortage. How can this be when receiving medical treatment in this country is highly desired throughout the world? One of the real culprits aside from the lack of interest in becoming a doctor is our declining education system especially when it comes to math & science. In disciplines other than healthcare, as the American workforce has moved away from manufacturing, the emphasis of jobs today & especially tomorrow are in the areas of research & development because innovation is what America has always done best. As a result, business also has a vested interested in seeing its children return to math & science. Increasingly blue chip companies are putting their time & money into the problem with mixed success.
Tomorrow's Jobs Require Math & Science Today n
Why are businesses having only modest success? Generally, it's hard to fire up American children when it comes to math & science...or so we've been told. Pursuing a career in medicine also means spending a minimum of 10 extra years training before reaping the monetary benefits which today amounts to less earning power than lawyers, stock brokers, & a host of other jobs that don't require anywhere near the same of amount of work & dedication.
High Tech High: A Solution To The Math/Science Deficit
However, the first real sign I have seen in a long time that someone has a clue about how to turn things around was while watching a brief news clip a few days ago about a relatively new public [charter] school in San Diego, Ca called High Tech High. It's a school full of math & science that challenges kids through the use of technology to dream & create. Children get in through the lottery system & can enter as early as grade school. Although there are no tests, they are evaluated on an ongoing basis; every child who attends graduates & most attend college. A public school where kids willingly focus their energy on math & science most of the day & thrive? What a concept! Apparently it's one successful enough to spawn 4 more schools just like it. I can hear the health & business community now: "bring it on!"