No Techno-Panaceas

Government schools are a good example of the limitations of technology (and money) in solving some problems.

How many years has it taken the average US company's budget to triple? 15? 20? In 1994, the federal school system stood at a crossroads. The Contract with America called for the end of the Department of Education. The NEA battled back with two arguments. How can you not support making a bigger investment in our children? And don't you realize we're on the verge of technology transforming our educational system (not without significant cost -- refer to argument #1).

Since then, over the last twelve years the education budget has tripled. The question we're asking ourselves now is, "has the quality of education tripled (or better)?" The truth is, if it had or if it even came close, we wouldn't have to ask.

So what would have to happen now for us to take the amount of money spent on education, divide it by the number of students, send it to the parents in a voucher and let the free market work? (The free market seems to have a pretty good track record by the way, which is a part of what web 2.0 is all about.)

Wow! Scary eh? Actually it's not my idea. It comes from -- among others -- a guy named Milton Friedman (pretty forward-thinking for a guy who just turned 94 years old), but I like it.