Entrepreneurs are people who get things done. If there is a problem, they are masters at finding a solution. If they need money, they locate it. If there is a missing link to a project, they bring in someone who can make sense of the dilemma. Does this describe you? If so, the country is waiting for you. Not sure what to do? Here is an idea, or three. 

This article is looking into our future! Our children. Our children are 20% of society, but 100% of our future. They will be the leaders of this Country and this World, are we preparing them for the task? We are entering a time where what worked in the past is no longer working; something needs to be done quickly. 

But first, a brief history lesson: The tipping point: Sputnik

1945 - 1946 was the beginning of the “baby boom” generation (Mid 40’s – 1964) the largest numbers of babies born in the history of the world. Class sizes in the USA grew to 60 children to one teacher. Some schools brought children in on 2 hours shifts. Teachers were both underpaid and overworked, and many were quitting. The summer of 1958 brought forth new school buildings. In California a new school was being built every seven days, class size settled at 30-32 students per teacher.

Then in the midst of the “baby boom” crisis, October 4th, 1957 there was Sputnik. Russians sent up, an unmanned missile and things changed. It was called, “The Sputnik Movement.” March 2, 1958, the United States traveled to Russia to see what the Russians were doing differently. Russia was turning out twice as many scientists as the U.S.; Russian children went to school six days a week, 213 days each year compared to 180 days in America. Every Russian child, both boy, and girls were required to take math and engineering. 

American’s rallied together; we realized we were lagging behind in education, there was a need to “catch-up.” The curriculum changed placing attention on math and sciences for the defense of the country. “We must depend on brain power; we must educate our children in math and sciences.” US citizens rallied together to find a solution, and we did. The National Defense Education Act, September 2, 1958. The act authorized funding for four years, increasing funding per year: for example, funding increased on eight program titles from $183 million in 1959 to $222 million in 1960. In total, over a billion dollars was directed towards improving American science curricula. And then there was NASA October 1, 1958. The first man on the moon 1969. 

We are now facing another tipping point in our school system: The collision of Technology and Inadequate Nutrition - The Perfect Storm

Today, almost 60 years after “Sputnik” teacher pay is low in many states and teachers are quitting. Classroom size has shrunk to around 27-28 per classroom, but the classrooms are ripe with behavioral issues. Yes, we have always had our class clowns and disruptive students in the past, but disrespect is now rampant in the schools from grades K-12. The most challenging grades are 5th and progress through high school. 

With the advent and explosion of technology, our children have the world at their fingertips. They can walk down the streets of Paris while sitting at home. They can race cars or monster trucks, play war games, take pictures, text, and facetime, all on a device that is about 2.5”x 5.” Why would we or should we expect a History or Social Studies book to hold their attention? 

This leaves us with behavioral issues that are brought on by boredom and inadequate nutrition. As a society, we have fallen into a diet pattern that is killing us it causes brain fog and autoimmune diseases including Alzheimer’s. Our children are forced to concentrate with a mind foggy from fruit juice, sugary cereal, and muffins or toast they had for breakfast. Like everything, some children are affected more than others, but none of them can work at peak performance filled with food that lacks nutrition. 

These behavioral issues brought on by society, through the technology explosion and amplified by insufficient nutrition, will take an army of entrepreneurs to repair, but I have faith. It is time to do something now.  ______________________

Dr. Mercola: “The overconsumption of sugar is increasingly being linked to brain-related health issues such as depression, learning disorders, memory problems, and overeating.”

“Research suggests consumption of sugar and sweets can trigger reward and craving states in your brain similar to addictive drugs.”

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/05/06/sugar-brain-health.aspx

Dr. Perlmutter: “I’ve had plenty more patients come through my doors and leave with a pain-free head, thanks to the adoption of a gluten-free diet.” 

Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers 

Dr. Mark Hyman: “Today, two slices of whole-wheat bread can raise your blood sugar more than two tablespoons of table sugar can.” 

Mark Hyman, The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body's Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast 

______________________

Of course, at the apex of this discussion, sitting atop education and nutrition, is safety. Our teachers and students should feel safe when they walk on a school campus. 

1. Needed immediately: We need students and teachers physically safe. Safe from ex-students whose needs were not met,or were bullied in school. A priority at this time is to stop these students from lashing out and killing innocent students as their punishment to an establishment that let them down. We need equipment on campus that will thwart an attempt at mass murder. There are designs out there, but they need to be affordable standardized and installed immediately. 

2. Changing curriculum and safety: Schools need to reach the spirit of each child, each child deserves an opportunity to soar. The curriculum is to be so engaging it envelopes the child. The new schools will have rooms filled with children who find their calling at a young age. When they walk through the doors of a classroom,they are scientists, mathematician, dancers, English professors, artists, etc. The curriculum will be full, rich and satisfying because they will be exposedto a passion that they already feel inside. I am not talking about removing or relegating the 3 “R’s” to the back of the classroom. I am talking about making them the center of the area of focus for the child. The young adult will leave school knowing what they will do before they move the tassel from the right side of their graduation cap to the left.

As large and as diverse as our country is now, rallying together as we did in the ‘50’s, will not happen. We need some bright thinkers that understand what is essential in our schools, find the money, and convince the governing bodies it is time for a change. 

There are (at least) 3 distinct areas that need to be addressed.

1. Physical safety in our schools 

2. A new curriculum, action-based supplemented by books. (A program that feeds the spirit of every child that walks through the doors.) 

3. Food that feeds the mind and fortifies the body. 

It is achievable. Our Children deserve it. Society needs it. Most importantly Our Country will have the leaders it needs to remain strong! 

Our children will be designing their life from the start!