A short history of the middle class

After World War II, something incredible happened. Military factories in the US and Canada, once churning out weapons of war, shifted gears to produce consumer goods like toasters and cars. They needed workers to fill the demand. The soldiers returning from WW2 needed jobs, and this kickstarted a golden era for the middle class. Picture this: families with decent paychecks buying homes and cars and snapping up all sorts of cool gadgets like TVs.

However, there was a catch. The whole supply-and-demand dance of economics didn't always play nice. Companies, driven by the free-market hustle, got obsessed with efficiency. So, they went hunting for ways to trim costs, boost innovation, and go big. And you know what that meant? Shipping jobs overseas where labor was cheaper. Sure, it saved them a bundle, but quality sometimes took a nosedive.

Fast forward to today, and we're still squabbling about the pros and cons of globalization. But let's face it: most of the stuff we buy isn't stamped "Made in the USA" or "Proudly Canadian." Think about your phone or computer—chances are, they're born far from home. Even big shots like Apple and Microsoft just slap their labels on, leaving the manufacturing to others. And that's leaving out the engineering brainpower that's jetted off to places like China.

Modern economics is like trying to solve a riddle inside a mystery. Money flies around like confetti, bouncing between investments and newfangled things like cryptocurrencies. It's a rollercoaster ride where predicting the next twist is anybody's guess. 

Now, what's the deal for education in all of this?

Gone are the days when teachers could pat themselves on the back, knowing they were prepping students for a secure future. Careers in finance, tech, and marketing are shape-shifting faster than you can say "job security." Thanks to inventions like A.I., the job market is a wild, unpredictable beast. You might graduate top of your class in accounting, but there's no guarantee you'll snag that dream job anymore.

So, what's the game plan for educators?

It's time to update the old playbook and dive headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship. Yup, you heard that right. We're talking about instilling that problem-solving mindset into every classroom. Why? Because our students aren't just facing equations and essays—they're gearing up to tackle real-world puzzles.

 Mastering algebra is important, but so is thinking like an entrepreneur. Students need to learn the art and skill of of spotting problems, finding creative solutions, and hustling hard to make things happen. And that's the secret sauce for thriving in an ever-changing world.