Interdisciplinary thinkers needed

It is amazing how the world changes in a few years. In the 80s and 90s, corporations wanted skilled people to handle programming, maintenance, marketing and manufacturing operations. Now companies want something different.

Modern companies need broad, international thinkers who are comfortable moving between cultures and disciplines. In today’s work environment, it is not uncommon for modern employees to work with programmers in India, manufacturing personnel in China and marketing people in Chicago, all in the course of one day. Unlike a decade ago, it makes no sense to spend a year learning the latest computer software because it is obsolete within a few short weeks.

The speed of change is so fast, it is mind numbing.

Now the question is, can our educational system change to meet the demands of the new paradigm. According to Catherine Gewertz, in her Education Week article, Assessing ’21st-Century Skills’ Won’t Be Easy:

“Business and higher education leaders are pleading with schools to teach ’21st-century skills,’ such as interdisciplinary thinking, that students need to flourish in an increasingly global, technology-rich society.”

However, parents and educational institutions seem to be dragging their feet, fixated on what worked in the early 90s.

At this point, kids need more than computer classes in kindergarten and special schools that focus on math and art. To be good interdisciplinary thinkers, they need an understanding of all subjects well, really well. As starters, everyone needs to know and understand Algebra and geometry, the periodic table and conservation of energy, the US Bill of Rights, and design and color. We need young people who are as comfortable with differential equations as they are with discussions of the Tang Dynasty.

What we did in the 90s isn’t enough. We need to change our perspective and expect our kids to learn more. If we do, companies will rush to hire US graduates. If we don’t, our kids will face tougher job prospects when they enter the workforce.

Juliann Talkington is the administrator of the Panama City Renaissance School. Reach her on 850-215-8712 or jtalkington@pcrschool.org.

Photos from You – Beach Clouds, Hermit Crabs, and Pier Park

Every week we’ll feature photos from you, the reader, of anything from crowded streets at Pier Park, to finger crabs scurrying across the beach. They say pictures are worth a thousand words, share your words with pcbdaily.com. Submit your photos and share your Panama City Beach pictures.

Submitted by Kerry Hulber

Clouds on the Beach

Submitted by Cora Busch

Pier Park for the Holidays

Kids and the Gulls

The Train in Pier Park

Ellen Kilough from the Visual Arts Center of Panama City

Don’t touch my Heine

Submitted by Lori Duncan

Deliciously Clear

Submitted by Jason Koertge

Clusters of Hermits

Herds of Hermits Crabs at Alligator Point, Panama City Beach

Weary of the Hand

Moonlight and Clouds

Huckabee – Romney's a Big Fat Spender

As droves of people waiting in weaving lines around the interior of Borders Books and Music in Pier Park, Mike Huckabee slowly made his way through “torrential” rain in his tour bus on Highway 98. Adorned with a huge image of himself, Huck’s bus sported his colors of blue and yellow. Team Huck is promoting his new book, Do the Right Thing.

I haven’t actually read the book, but a review I read described that it was more of what not to do, specifically using Mitt Romney’s expensive campaign to non-nomination.

All that perceived profligacy and ineptitude appears to delight Huckabee to no end and few pages in the book pass without a mention of ‘ol Mitt’s mistakes. In fact, Romney appears more in “Do the Right Thing” than any person except Huckabee himself, according to the book’s own index, and about 99.9 percent of Romney’s appearances ain’t pretty, of course. – Jason George

Many came with their already-owned books, many others purchased the book that night. Some were supporters, others still were just there to see a previous (and possible future) presidential candidate.

The buzz was great and the energy high with representatives from all the major local news stations.

Mike was accompanied by two others wearing Team Huck colared shirts that resembled the uniform of a race team.

The book is out, I probably won’t read it, but you can. Do the Right Thing is available at Borders Books and Music.

Enjoy the pictures of the event!

Revenue Enhancement Committee Meeting

Download the agenda here.

AGENDA

REVENUE ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
Bay County Tourist Development Council
Panama City Beach
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 1:00 p.m. Board Room, Visitor
Information Center

I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

III. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON AGENDA ITEMS (3 Minutes)

IV. UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT COSTS FROM STRATEGIC PLAN, Mr. Dan Rowe, President

V. UPDATE ON DESTINATION MARKETING, Mr. Peter Yesawich, YPartnership

VI. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

VII. ADJOURNMENT

TDC Bed Tax Committee Meeting Agenda for Wednesday

I know, I know, they changed the name to Revenue Enhancement Committee.

Wednesday December 3, 2008, the Revenue Enhancement Committee will meet to further discuss development costs from the strategic plan and get an update on destination marketing from Peter Yesawich from Y partnership.

If you remember from the last Revenue Enhancement Committee, 4 major points were discussed, TDC Marketing and Awareness, Special Events Marketing, Sports Marketing, and Destination Marketing. The estimated costs tagged with everything proposed totaled more than $52 million.

This meeting, I believe we should see a greater explanation into these costs and some greater detail as to what is feasible and what is not.