Posts from — January 2008

Dear Bill,

Congratulations on starting your new job with the Gates Foundation!

I appreciate that you are willing to turn your attention from the world of technology to focus on solving some of the world’s most challenging and difficult problems. That is not only admirable but extremely important work. Thank you for taking it on!

Your good friend Warren Buffet says in his rule number one for investors, “never lose money.” I would ask you to consider, as you take your new job, that you make a rule for your philanthropy to “never waste money.”

Education is one of the core areas being targeted in the US program of the Gates Foundation. As part of that focus the foundation has given millions of dollars towards the improvement of public schools and schooling. Putting money towards improving the public school system in the United States is a waste of money. It is also a waste of time and energy.

Our public school system as currently conceived cannot and will not achieve the kinds of outcomes the Foundation along with many countless others wish it would. This system cannot, as currently conceived, create the right kinds of environments and circumstances for young people to have the knowledge and skills needed for being successful in the 21st Century. Things like critical thinking and problem solving skills, creativity and innovation skills, and communication and collaboration skills (as you know these are just a few of the kinds of knowledge and skills people of all ages need to be successful in this day and age). What we need is to rethink and redesign the concept of school and schooling and put money into the creation of new models that will achieve these kinds of results.

The purpose of our public school system must be re-conceived. Reinventing schools and schooling for success in the 21st Century is more important than putting a man on the moon was in the 1960s. And it will take just as much if not more collaboration, time, energy and money. I cannot think of a more important challenge. Our public school system touches every single person in the country and has the potential to leverage our talents, knowledge and skills into solving all other problems facing society.

The money the Gates Foundation has already spent towards making improvements in our schools and schooling is not insignificant. Starting today I believe the place to put that money is where it can make the most difference – and that is in developing and conceiving new models of education, learning, and if still deemed relevant, schools and schooling.

The important and relevant education and learning taking place in this country today is happening via a combination of family life, social interactions and the various forms of media bombarding young people today. There is very little to no important learning taking place in our schools. Sure, there might be the few bright spots on an otherwise dark and dreary scene. But having a few bright spots is not enough and should only serve to inspire us to do more. Not more of the same but more of the ‘different.’

Please consider shifting the focus of your investing towards people and organizations that have the capacity and interest in creating new models of education, schools and schooling. These models can and must be developed simultaneous to the continuation of the ongoing work on the current system. Your money, and the money of the Gates Foundation, could be better spent helping to develop this new system.

I sincerely wish that you enjoy your new job and continue to make an impact on these ‘interesting times’ we are living in!

Michael