CNBC Squawk Box on Technology and Education
(9/30/2005)
CNBC Squawk Box on Technology and Education. I did 2 spots on CNBC Squawk Box last Wednesday. (I know, I apologize for not posting it ahead of time.) Had a great time. The first was about technology, the second about education. I think they are the same subject.
In the first spot I had a disagreement with Mark Cuban about technology. Mark thinks American school kids have all the communications technology they need. I think that's a load of crap. I have spoken with grade school principals who tell me they do not have access to high-speed networks. They don't exist because our laws have made it uneconomic to invest in the fiber to the school/home/business. Thankfully, there are draft bills now in Congress that may help the situation.
In the second spot I got to speak with Margaret Spellings, US Secretary of Education. She is terrific, and understands the problem. Education is the only reliable way to lift poor children out of permanent poverty. One of the anchors asked whether we could afford the money to improve education. We don't need more money, we need more productivity in education to lower the cost so every kid gets all they need. Technology is the way to get it. I saw things in China that will make you want to make sure your children get the best training possible. More on that later.