The old quote suggests ‘may we live in interesting times’ and we do live in such times. Here I sit in an era where big business is poised to make (and likely keep) ridiculous amounts of money. After all, these are some of the same political leaders that made buying an SUV all but free in America–so long as you did so for business purposes. Which brings me to my point: It is high time to start a business. Sure, the economy is going to sag for a very large financial demographic, but if you’re putting your time and (borrowed) capital into the right kind of business then you are in a really good spot to profit. What, might you ask, is that business? Schools.
This is the prime time to open a charter school. Should she get nominated, the incoming education secretary is highly interested in privatizing (read: monetizing) the public school system. If you take tax dollars off the register then, in this political climate, you look like you are doing something. So, when those funds go towards increasing other areas of note such as private business you look like you are doing even more. Add it all up and building a charter program is all about the bucks. Why not? Teacher salaries are ebbing towards a low in most states, and with little limitations on how charters operate it is simple enough to fortify your numbers through partnerships with colleges and other areas where teachers are being trained and retrained. So long as the student grades meet the often arbitrary state numbers you can be very successful and personally profitable.
Which leads me to this: I want to open a school. Sarcasm aside, I have a lot of ideas on how to make it work and I have very little need for mass profiteering. I want enough to have a little house and feed my boys, but the bulk of money ought to be invested in the school itself and providing the best education and programs outside of the basic areas that any school is directed to provide. I want to offer coding, pottery, advanced music and dance, a relationship with the museums, creative writing that links students to a publishing track, a robust sports program that draws the eye of local high schools, etc.
I want it all. I think I can get it now.