There are those who believe that progressive education policy may be a path for addressing a great national need and balancing the latest political tensions “inside the beltway” over taxes, growth and the deficit. The suggestion is aptly captured by Liz Peek in her Fiscal Times column in which she advises President Obama to “zero in on a cause [education policy] that has widespread support (unlike health care) and get something done.”
While the focus is on the nation’s education deficit that unless addressed will further exacerbate our economic deficit, there is an insight here that can also apply to the growing over 65 segment of America’s population. Can a thoughtful education policy also help seniors who will likely live a decade or two or even three beyond 65 be productive economic contributors rather than full time retirees? The numbers are staggering – 77M Baby Boomers nationwide – one turning 65 every 8 seconds starting January 2011 and continuing through Dec. 2029. That’s 10,000 boomers turning 65 every day.
If the President and his Education Secretary Arne Duncan are serious about drafting an education policy as indicated in Secretary Duncan’s recent interview on the topic, why not include all Americans? And if education policy is at least in part about economic growth, consider the advantage of ongoing learning through an education policy designed to keep some portion of these 77 million working.
Our political leaders do have some interesting places they can turn for guidance: Deloitte’s Cathy Benko and Molly Anderson’s The Corporate Lattice argue the old corporate ladder metaphor is dead, and in its place is the more flexible, dispersed and virtual, “lattice” concept facilitated by an ongoing learning, skill enhancement and education process for the new and different jobs throughout working life. Secretary Duncan’s own department acknowledges that 60 percent of all new jobs in the 21st century will require skills that only 20 percent of current employees possess. This will be as applicable for those entering today’s work force as those very far along in their careers, but in light of the new longevity will be able to continue working. And if we can get this right in America, the application for the 450 million worldwide turning 65 might also benefit from our “best practice.” Longevity is a driving phenomenon of the 21st century. Embedding it positively in education will make good public policy. It will also be smart politics.
Michael W. Hodin, Ph.D., is Managing Director, The High Lantern Group, Adjunct Senior Fellow at The Council on Foreign Relations, and Executive Director of The Global Coalition on Aging.
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