Bill Gates on Mosquitos, Malaria and Education...

When I first saw the name of this video, I thought, "What the heck does education have to do with mosquitoes and malaria". Turns out, it has a lot to do with it. Around the 7:15 minute mark, it talks about who is needed to help fight malaria (communicators, social scientists, mathematicians, drug companies, government). This is what leads Gates into teaching and education.

Bill Gates talks about how the economy is only providing for those with higher and better education but we need to change it so that "people have equal opportunity" and make the country strong. Some of the statistics he talks about are appalling, especially when he talks about the minority students. It is so sad and it makes my heart break that everyone in this country does not have the chance for better education.

However, he talks about "great teachers" are the ones who can make the difference. Now, I completely agree that great teachers are needed and if you have a great teacher, the students will be driven, enjoy school and do well. BUT, I also think that parents have a lot to do with it. We do need great teachers to get the kids excited and challenged, but if the students are not being challenged, or engaged when they get home, then the knowledge may not stick. Gates mentioned that everyone needs to be involved. Even though he is specifically talking about the KIPP schools, parents need to be involved as well. It is interesting to see how the teachers are treated at the KIPP school. The teachers may not be the most educated (I'm talking about Master's and Doctorate degrees) or the most experienced, but they are the ones who get help from mentors and their lessons are video taped and critiqued. It seems like a great system.

I enjoyed listening to his presentation. I thought he was a great speaker and he had a great message, but I think it goes beyond great teachers - the students have to be engaged when they go home as well. Parents should be held responsible for their children's education as well. I don't mean they have to fork over tons of money to send their kids to school, but they should ask their kids if they have homework, what did they learn in school, and have them show what they are being taught.