Education in America: Are We Preparing Our Kids for Success or Setting Them Up to Fail?

As a father of six, with another child on the way, I've given a lot of thought to the future of my kiddos, especially when it comes to education. I'm a proud American, born and raised, but many of my team members—even our Founder—are not American-born. Given the global scope of our company's mission to bring sanity to the investment world, it’s become routine for me to jump from Zoom calls in Europe, LATAM to those in Australia and beyond.

These interactions, along with recent events, have made me think. If I were standing at the gates of Heaven and, for some reason, Apostle Peter decided to send me back to Earth, where would I want to end up? Where would I want to gain knowledge, build a career, support my family, and fulfill my life mission? Where would you choose, reader?

The U.S. Education System: Challenges and Comparisons

But when I compare our education system and its success with other countries or continents, I'm in awe.

Did you know that the U.S. ranks second, just behind Latin America, in high school and college dropouts? We see a dropout rate of up to 15% in high schools, and nearly half of all college students do not finish their degrees. In other words, almost every other person who pursues higher education ends up dropping out.

This brings me to the million-dollar question: Is it because half of our population is made up of geniuses who have no need of school? Or is it due to economic factors, with students unable to afford tuition? Or is it because our educational system is simply not functional?

Exploring Alternatives and Innovations in Education

I recently read an article in Forbes that highlighted a growing dissatisfaction among Americans with the state of higher education. According to a survey conducted by New America, a progressive think tank, only about a third of Americans now believe higher education is "fine" as it is, down from the previous year. The survey, which included 1,705 adults, also revealed that fewer Americans view higher education as a good return on investment (73% in 2024, down from 82% in 2017). Additionally, only 54% believe higher education positively impacts the country, a 16-percentage-point drop since 2019.

Interestingly, over two thirds of parents still want their children to receive some form of postsecondary education and believe associate and bachelor's degrees are worth the investment.

Although many Americans see the cost of college as a significant barrier to education, we've traditionally viewed higher education as both a private and public good. While public universities receive state funding and can be a more affordable option, many of us view higher education as an individual investment we're willing to make. However, there's a growing belief that states should increase funding for public colleges and universities.

How about you, would you prefer to adopt the European system where higher education is considered a public good and a right rather than a privilege? Should taxpayers be paying for our children's higher education? What do you think?

And what about the curriculum? What are your thoughts on allowing for innovation in curriculum design, versus the academic traditions of universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and the Sorbonne, which emphasize theoretical knowledge and research, especially in fields like science, engineering, and the humanities? Would you prefer the rigorous academic standards, cutting-edge research, and wide array of academic programs at institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford instead?

I also wonder, if you believe these theoretical academics are applicable in day-to-day life. Did you learn what you needed for your profession in school, or did you gain most of your knowledge in the field practice? Personally, I’ve found that I often have to retrain my staff, spending considerable time and effort teaching them even basic skills like phone etiquette, sales techniques, and how to write a formal letter. Have you had similar experiences? I would love to hear your thoughts on the current education system...

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About PhilanthroInvestors

PhilanthroInvestors combines traditional venture capital financing tools with philanthropic principles to achieve social impact. By secure, meaningful, and profitable investments, they bring capital and also change people’s lives.

PhilanthroInvestors are currently working in four sectors – Housing, Water, Health and Environment – and will be adding more investment sectors in the future. PhilanthroInvestors founder Ivan Anz owns companies on three continents and has investors in 14 countries.

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