Education for Humanity

Humanity is facing nearly insurmountable challenges, risks, and crises. Resource depletion, global pollution of the entire biosphere, and climate change due to our excessive and uncontrollably growing human population may be the most difficult long-term problems that urgently need to be solved. However, the current influenza pandemic and other unforeseen but inevitable health emergencies including hunger, poverty, and a lack of universal public health infrastructure in the absence of stable country governments are common occurrences in our present world, and they will be increasingly problematic as our populations grow in a resource-depleted world. Conflicts including wars and terrorism, and a lack of reliable national and international leadership abetted by religious intolerance and corruption in governmental and religious institutions will contribute to the expected widespread failure of educational systems. Here, we shall address the causes and consequences of educational system failures, from elementary schools to universities. Public support and governmental programs must provide the essential resources for scholarly and successful schools, starting with K-12 and continuing up to our top universities. When education and research are not adequately supported by government funding, difficulties arise in all sectors of society, simply because knowledgeable people are not available to understand and interpret complex matters dealing with a community, a country, or the world. In fact, decision making that relies on irrational beliefs rather than knowledgeable understanding has a bleak future. Only education can provide logical assistance when formulating life's many strategies. The lack of it has arguably led to more personal and national disasters than any other source. Most individuals in a society do not have the means to obtain a sufficient education so they can attempt to understand and contribute optimally to the world in which we live. If public support is lacking, only the rich can afford it, and 99% of the citizens, who are among those most likely to have the greatest problem-solving potential, will not receive it. Even for the wealthy, no educational system can achieve its maximal potential when it is under-resourced. Moreover, proper operation requires excellence in instructors, infrastructure, modern technologies/equipment, and enrolled students. Educational institutions also require leadership, not just low-level administrative management. While numerous managers consider themselves leaders, those whom they manage know that this is too often simply wishful thinking. Individuals must assume responsibility when and where it is appropriate, but no further, in order to avoid poor educational performance resulting from excessive restrictions and inadequate training. Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 206:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s11270-009-0269-4