If I were to use Oprah Winfrey’s educational investment in South Africa as a barometer, I would think I had to spend more money on my kid’s education. Because of the amount spent per pupil, one could assume that a top-notch education equaled an extravagant education. Therefore, I have to ask; is an expensive education a better education?
In a word, studies have shown that the answer is yes. Look at the Chance of Success Study recently completed and every other educational study ever released. They all say that richer, smarter parents have richer smarter kids. But where do you draw the line? Is Oprah’s investment of millions, too much? Let us look at the educations of this country’s current leaders:
- Bill Gates may have been a college dropout, but he taught himself to hack into commuters at the exclusive Seattle’s Lakeside School. To attend that school today would cost approximately $20,000.00 a year plus incidentals of another $2000.00 – $3000.00 a year, per child.
- Donald Trump claims a meager beginning, being from an immigrant family, but the truth is his father and grandfather were wealthy entrepreneurs. At the age of 13, he was sent to a Military Academy. Military Academies are not cheap.
- Disney CEO Michael Eisner was born into wealth where he attended the 700-acre Lawrenceville School as a child. The Lawrenceville School is a “college preparatory high school” whose alumni include “presidents of foreign countries, governors, Saudi princes, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalists and captains of industry.” Current tuition for this school, known as a “Princeton feeder” is $34,570 for boarding students and $28,180 for day students.
From looking at these examples, and many others, I would have to concur that an expensive education, could lead to an education that produces great leaders. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.
(to be continued…)