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The State of Education in America

Learning is fun…isn’t it?.. I wish we could get more to enjoy the sport!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 3:51 pm

What wonderful grandparents he has.

Education is SO important and if you have the means (rather then send him to a substandard school) it’s the right thing to do for someone you love.

Kudos.

I’m sorry for your child though…being underwater sucks.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 3:21 pm

Ghostrider, what a GREAT first post!

My goodness so many great points you brought up.

I, too believe, educational standards should be set at the national level and that the ‘no child left behind’ fiasco was just that a fiasco.

I think, that having the localities and sad to say, parent’s setting the school agenda is NOT wise, especially TODAY, when are students are competing GLOBALLY and not locally for opportunities.

Another concern I have with today’s public education system, is the lack of accurate information that many students are being taught. NOW there has always been some indoctrination at the elementary level (George Washington’s cutting down the Cherry tree and lack of information regarding the Early European’s treatment of the Indigenous people, comes readily to mind…I won’t even get into how slavery was addressed) BUT usually by High school, some truth started to come out.

Today, I’m not seeing as that, in addition, critical thinking seems to have gone to the wayside in favor of learning by rote.

I was so upset with my daughters high school social studies teacher, we really got into it…as she was teaching from a textbook that completely gave the wrong impression on global trade. Mind you I live in NY! I was flabbergasted that my local school, which ranks exceptionally high, was teaching patently false ideas to the students. The teacher said it was the curriculum. I said, that was NOT satisfactory to me. It was a rather minor issue if I recall (this was 3 years ago) but never the less, why teach something that isn’t true? As this IS my field of expertise and my daughter asked ME for my input on her assignment, I couldn’t help but get involved and complain. I wish I remembered the details of what was being taught incorrectly.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 2:55 pm

An Easy Guide to Global Warming: What Is Global Warming?

Caru, thank you for this post. I learned some new things of which I wasn’t aware of the details.

I look forward to the rest of your series!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 2:39 pm

Doing Business – The Right Way

I reiterate…I like you better here. 🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 1:36 pm

I think you are right…we are SO divided. It’s concerning.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 1:35 pm

That was my idea too, when I started my consulting biz…I wanted to get to businesses BEFORE they embarked on a global strategy and help them navigate the social, legal and technical requirements BEFORE they made a mess of things.

Sadly that isn’t how it has worked. Most of the time, they don’t call until they have a problem and then I have to work with their service providers to fix things…so much more work.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 11:38 am

BigDogMOm, it is amazing how many don’t understand all this.

I had an argument a few months back with the SO’s sister about business and how everything interrelates, she would have NONE of it..she wouldn’t even listen.

It all started with a conversation about Walmart….and global trade and how what walmart did affects MORE than just the prices you pay at their store…

Now mind you, she knows what I do for a living. She works as a customer service rep at a large insurance co. and has a BA degree in English. It’s not that she isn’t intelligent, but she has 0 training or education in anything related to big business.

I was like, WHY argue with me? Especially because my argument wasn’t just mine, but came from ideas espoused by both Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman?

As I told her…she was like, WHO? Then I told her who they were and she still insisted on arguing (they are elitists) in her mind!

Whatever!

🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 11:32 am

I have no problem with conservative opinions. Truly I don’t. What I have a problem is when the conversation turns into a pissing match…You know what I mean? And that what usually gets my goat.

I actually like the REAL exchange of ideas especially where economics is concerned, that don’t ignore the problems inherent in the system or that don’t pretend that those problems are easily wiped away, with platitudes.

I like much of what I see being done in Canada. Is it perfect? No, but Canada does seem to have a better understanding of how the mix of socialist ideas and capitalist ones need to work.

For example, the health care system, as you mentioned.

I’ve had lots of dealing with Canadian business people over the years. 21 years to be exact. At least 75% of my clients were Canadian businesses. I also have many Canadian colleagues and we have discussed at length the differences in our systems and what we like about each system and what we don’t like.

It really is interesting to really compare the differences, especially from a business perspective.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 11:26 am

I so WISH more would come to people like ME, BEFORE they have problems…it’s so much easier to help them get started on the right foot, than it is to fix the messes they create for themselves AFTER the fact!

I actually make more money off of their screw ups, but it’s such a headache!

There are so many variables they don’t consider when they embark on a global strategy; culture, taxes, different ways of doing business (what is acceptable in one country is not exactly the same in another!). AND the cost differences, don’t get me started. They often try to use what is standard HERE as costs to measure costs there, and it is not always the same, there are different things to be considered.

Apples and oranges. TO do an accurate comparison we have to actually analyze ALL the costs involved! Urgh! 🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 10:28 am

David, I think I like you better on this forum! 🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 10:24 am

Probably. Most Brokers won’t use their bond either anymore. Liability is too great.

It’s interesting because with globalization, our services are more important than over in the global supply chain and those of us in the ‘trade’ have really seen our value rise. We are one of the few industries to have made out due to globalization.

Sadly though, too many small companies, think it’s easier than it is to go global and get in trouble before they get to reap any rewards.

An effective global business strategy is ESSENTIAL to have in place BEFORE attempting to go global, that is often lacking in many small businesses.

They get mislead by UPS ads and media hype.

An international business is much more complicated than a domestic one and that failure to understand often hurts those that could really benefit from it, but they don’t want to spend the money to get the accurate help setting themselves up for global commerce.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 8:26 am

Not really, that’s the thinking that gets them in trouble.

The importer of record, is the responsible party REGARDLESS of who handles the paperwork for them. The importer of record is the one who holds the bond for the shipment…no reputable forwarder will take that responsibility, the fines are too great.

Compliance and due diligence is the name of the game. If an importer/exporter is not doing that, it doesn’t matter who they hire. It’s all part of that policing themselves thing…BUT the anti terrorism initiatives added TEETH to self policing.

Most freight forwarders are no better in that they have the paperwork filled out by low level clerks.

The only freight forwarders that are good for international are those who have a customs brokerage arm.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 8:16 am

I’ve seen that happen myself. “It is a pennywise pound foolish” thing that many small companies fall victim too.

I for one, AM a huge believer in hiring CPA’s. It’s just not worth it to not have competent accounting help, in the long run!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 8:12 am

OH my gosh…YES…I couldn’t agree more, they bury the real cost.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 8:09 am

I agree PW.

I don’t think many really think through the amount of money that not hiring the proper people really costs them in the long run.

Take my example for instance of having a $10 an hour receptionist handling import/export paperwork, who doesn’t prepare the paperwork properly; say the company is shipping from Hamilton Ont. Canada, to Detroit MI….

First the driver is held up at customs (The trucking company charges a per hour rate for delays)SO NOW there is an additional cost for the freight handling. NEXT there will be an additional charge from the customs broker for handling the problem (above their normal service) Another added cost. NEXT Customs will ding their compliance rate for the error, which will cause delays in future shipments. NEXT Customs issue a fine for the mistake, (this can be up to a year later) Which WILL lead to more delays on future shipments. NEXT the consignee will be angry because the freight was late…possibly taking their business elsewhere.

The costs sometimes are not as easy to recognize, but are there.

SO paying someone who doesn’t know what they are doing, $10 to do the paperwork, could end up costing a minimum of $500 or MUCH more. So wouldn’t it make more sense to hire a professional to begin with? AND if you are too small and REALLY can’t afford someone to do that for you, then perhaps that should not be part of your business yet.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:42 am

Good point. I think a lot of small businesses fail to that.

When I started mine, I knew I didn’t have certain expertise. SO the first thing I did, was hire a lawyer and CPA. Next I hired a HR consultant and payroll firm. Next I hired an IS consultant.

I did that RIGHT off the get go. It was well worth the extra expense. IF I had used one of my employees who were NOT trained in those fields, to handle accounting or HR or even to do the set up of my hardware and software, It would have cost ME way more in the long run.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:26 am

Indeed PW! 🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:22 am

Many times they can’t afford NOT to hire another person, they just don’t realize it.

In the cases I dealt with, they were importing and exporting products throughout the world and should have been making money, but they just weren’t allocating their resources properly. IF a company is dealing internationally THEY better have competent professionals on staff or they shouldn’t be doing it.

CONTRARY to popular opinion, trade is HIGHLY regulated. More so than most believe. The fines and penalties for a SMALL business are substantial, as is lowered compliance rates, which lead to held or confiscated shipments, which costs a lot of money for small companies.

FOR large companies, the costs aren’t as great and lack of compliance often is based on cost/benefit analysis to them. HOWEVER, they can still be hurt by lowered compliance levels…ergo EVERY large importer/exporter has professional supply chain people and customs professionals on staff.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:21 am

LOL!

But doing it right IS important. I had a problem with one of my investors on this issue. I wanted to set it up right from the onset; with ME working for hard in the beginning making a plan, strategy, hiring the right people to do the necessary tasks, buying the most efficient software and hardware…maybe spending a little more in the beginning to ensure we had better quality systems and people.

HE didn’t see the logic…in his mind one had to work 80-100 hours a week to be effective. It thought he was full of it. WE ended up parting, with ME leaving the company I started. He got the other investors to side against me on more important issues and I resigned, that was in May of 2007.

Funny thing, in October of this year, I got an apology form one of the investors who sided against me. HE called and took me to lunch and apologized profusely. He felt bad that he didn’t listen to me..the business has gone down hill since I left.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:07 am

OH my Gawd, BigDogMom, you nailed something that I had to deal with myself often in business. The lack of understanding of the necessity of hiring real honest to goodness experts for certain tasks.

Accounting is one of them as is my field, customs brokerage and international logistics. Another is human resources.

IT used to boggle my mind how many of my small customers had the receptionist or shipping clerk handling their international paperwork and then were shocked, SHOCKED i tell you, when their shipments were held, confiscated or delayed OR if they received a fine. WE would warn them and explain to them the importance, but they would ignore us. Mind boggling.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 7:01 am

Excellent piece PW.

You are so right…no one teaches one how to do it and it is no picnic, that is for sure!

I think many romanticize what it is going to be like and then when they get there find out it wasn’t as pretty as they thought it would be.

I look forward to further installments.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 6:37 am

Gifford’s rehab and the plight of others without access to her level of care

Wonderful. I am truly happy for her and her husband. It really is miraculous.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 1:26 pm

Hi Ana. I was sad to leave so abruptly, but he moderation/deletion thing so got to me. In my mind it is a form of suppression of ideas, I just didn’t feel I could in good conscience continue there.

My only regret is I didn’t get a chance to really say good bye and I was hoping I would hook up with everyone on other sites.

Thank you for the understanding.

This is a nice forum. I think you will like it.

I hope you will be back!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 9, 2011 @ 1:25 pm

It’s funny you mention it, Chernynkaya said essentially the same thing earlier.

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 6:39 pm

Thanks KK….you know I feel the same about you!

So happy to see you here!!!!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 6:37 pm

I couldn’t agree more…I want off on my rant on the system as a whole but without health what does ANYONE really have?

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 3:42 pm

HI Gransview. Nice to see you.

I’m glad you are here, too! 🙂

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 2:03 pm

Thanks ADLib…I just didn’t want to be a thread hog!

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 2:02 pm

Another great comment PW.

I couldn’t agree more…the message isn’t getting out properly. I actually mentioned this on HP a couple of times…we on the left, need much better PR. Many of us ARE business people, we understand PR, Marketing, Advertising, so why do we have such a problem selling our message?

» Posted By Abbyrose86 On February 8, 2011 @ 1:25 pm