America is struggling with its competition as the world is evolving purely on  creativity within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) area.   Newly introduced products are revolutionizing the world annually.  Unless Americans embrace STEM, we as a nation are doomed.   While other countries are introducing hands-on STEM High Schools at earlier ages, the American educational system is stuck on the liberal arts philosophy of speaking well and writing well only.   These two skills are important if you have something revolutionarily to discuss.   Alone they are unproductive skills that have led many to unemployment and poverty especially in  Urban America where jobs are so desperately needed.   Despite the fact professionals from Asian, European and African nations have risen out of poverty with the mastery of STEM, urban schools high schools are hanging on to the liberal arts philosophy.  As a concerned parent, I wondered what would happen if I created an alternative high school, a cyber school that would provide STEM based curriculum to high school dropouts and juvenile delinquents with  the entire curriculum on-line with graphics and video illustrating the concepts.   Would students embrace the concept of STEM High Schools?  Would they drop in to these alternative high schools?  Would they finish high school and acquire a technology skill?

Cyber School Birthed   The wonderment became Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School.  Hustle & TECHknow was born, September, 2006, upon execution of a contract between Uplift, Inc., a 501(c) 3 Idea Incubator and Detroit Public School with the goal of motivating high school dropouts to complete the 230 credits necessary to receive a Michigan accredited high school diploma.   Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School, an onsite cyber school , was located on the Compuware Campus in Downtown Detroit serving high school dropouts ages 16-19.   Imagine students who once skipped school consistently are now attending school daily.  Students are drawn to Hustle & TECHknow for various reasons.  Many come to satisfy their video game addiction as classes occur virtually via the internet.  Others seek the hands-on training of designing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, websites and brochures utilizing Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.   Or maybe it is the exposure gained by field trips other high school students do not receive.     Or it could be the job interviewing, and job search training provided by Compuware into order secure a future job.   Or maybe students cling to the family atmosphere that recognizes their talents, presence and survival needs immediately.  There are only 15 students per class.    Or the comfortable award winning high tech environment comprised of multiple computer labs.  Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School became a finalist in the Automation Alley Educational Program of the Year Award.   Or maybe it is the gutsy move to seek approval as a Cisco Networking Academy making it the third school in Detroit to participate in this prestigious world wide educational program.

Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School was the safety zone where students        can grow into whatever or whomever they choose to be. Their past in the juvenile    justice system does not define their present or their future life.   Whatever attracts students to stay at Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School,  their attraction has  established an 80% graduation rate during its inaugural year.   It does not matter what success Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School has encountered, it lost their contract to politics.  Yes, I stated politics.  Most urban school systems operate on politics rather than performance.  As an industrial nation we should be outraged that urban school districts waste trillions of dollars leaving students without STEM skills to survive in the highly competitive world to satisfy political egos of school executives.    We should be outraged that urban school districts fight innovation and evolution in the educational process.  We should be outraged that the largest urban school districts provide poor choices to fifty percent of the nation’s children leaving them with education that provides them with  no career choices today or in the future.

Do Your Part  Issue a Call to Action Are you tired of the richest country in the world allowing large urban school districts to destroy the futures of urban students and hence the viability of America?  If you believe cyber schools could improve the futures of our students, post a message on our message board. Better yet, write or call your State Legislature and request they pass bills to create or expand CYBER SCHOOLS.   Hustle & TECHknow Preparatory High School Michigan House of Representatives   Michigan Senate                                      DONATE    News regarding cyber schools worldwide.   State STEM Acceleration South Carolina Virtual Schools

2007 Uplift, Inc. All Rights Reserved.