Successful nations that intend to maintain economic and social powers have high regard for universal education. They know that for tomorrow’s adults to enjoy success, youth must acquire foundational skills and attitudes. Teachers and well managed public schools are vital to building the needed competencies.

Unfortunately, most political and business leaders do not worry much about the future. Larry Fink, head of BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest asset manager, calls it, “persistent and pernicious short-term thinking.”

Additionally, a selfish attitude grows within segments of society. It is the idea that “proper” education should be reserved for elites. For everyone else: education-lite. This means basic low cost, no-frills, technical and vocational training, dependent on what business needs today. If Enbridge wants welders, we will train welders. If Starbucks needs counter staff, we teach people how to open bags, fill hoppers and press buttons.

However, we won’t even commit sufficient resources to pursue this strategy. It is too easy and too cost efficient to import worker bees from elsewhere and, when our needs are complete, return them without having to worry about anyone expecting “entitlements.”

Claims are made that a division between proper-education and education-lite benefits the talented but, in reality, the emphasis mostly benefits the privileged. However, when the decision makers are themselves privileged, they’re ok with that.