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American Council on Higher Education Has Had no Effect on The Declining Standards Of America’s Education System.

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During the First World War there was a perception that the federal government was unpredictable with its decisions on higher education.

It was also felt that the war would seriously hamper the number of youngsters attending colleges and universities, and so the presidents of America’s colleges and universities felt they needed to take action.

As a result the Emergency Council on Education was formed in 1918 with Samuel Capen as director, and was essentially the American Council on Higher Education matters.

The Council now comprises 1800 member associations of accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities, higher education associations, and numerous other educational organizations.

The American Council on Higher Education is responsible for defining strategies and issues, while putting across the case for education to the government.

Millions of American kids are graduating from high school without the most basic of reading, writing or arithmetic skills, which in a global market place has to be a massive concern.

Part of the problem must lie with the American Council on Higher Education, which is so overly populated with associations who have differing views and priorities that it is a wonder they can agree on anything.

For example there has always been a conflict of views between the public and private sector institutions on how federal student aid should be distributed, or whether more money should be given to research dominated institutions rather than undergraduate education.

There is also a complacency that has crept in to American thinking, for the one super power in the world assumed it dominated in all aspects such as business and technology.

That sort of thinking has lead to Americans taking their eye off the ball and letting their kids get into college just because they are good at sport.

Now the United States of America must realize that by allowing their education system to not only stand still, but drop alarmingly in standards, the Chinese, Indians, Russians and Eastern Europeans are overtaking them.

This, coupled with cheap labor in these countries, has led to a surge in American companies outsourcing work and many job losses in the United States.

The American Council on Higher Education needs to sort out its priorities, but while the associate members and supporters have conflicting interests this seems unlikely to happen.

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Business Leader Critical of American Education

Craig Barrett, the CEO of Intel, expressed his concerns at other countries’ education overtaking that of America. Looking at China, India and Russia’s emergence as major forces in the world economy, he noted that was about 3 billion people who weren’t part of the world economy 10 years ago.

If only 10 percent of these people have been properly educated, that means about 300 million more well-qualified competitors for technology jobs globally.

Barrett said “This figure is about twice the size of the U.S. work force and represents a massive shift in the competitive environment for highly skilled jobs.”

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Funding the American Council on Education

Many businesses, foundations and individuals help to fund the American Council on Education.

It will be interesting to see when the list of supporters in 2008 is posted on the council website, how many are able to sustain their funding. Companies may look at education as the least of their priorities.

Other supporters have dubious backgrounds. The foundations listed as supporters in 2007 are worth looking at.

Foundations are set up essentially as a way for rich businessmen to hide their money tax free.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports the Council, had this accusation aimed at them.

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Foundations with Spurious Backgrounds

Another supporter of the Council is the Rockefeller Foundation, which had links to the Nazis last century.

This foundation funds eugenics programs in the United States, and is a clear supporter of population control. Bill Gates also supports eugenics.

These are very influential people in business. This must mean they can influence the policies of the Council too.

The Ford Foundation is also a supporter. They have links to the CIA, so students with political links opposing the American Government will doubtless lose their education funding.

It is clear the American Council on Education cannot make a case for back to basics education in the United States. Major supporters have interests in research of unethical practices, not the interests of America’s students.

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