"We like to think that institutions are shaped according to the best vision of the best men in them, and sometimes they are ... (but) ... Like the sand dunes in the desert, they are shaped by influences but not by purposes" — John W. Gardner, "No Easy Victories."

That may best describe what is happening to education in Utah today. It's outdated and struggling to meet the needs of today's students; yet, we keep coming up with fixes aimed at making the system run, "shaped by influences" rather than by first asking the most fundamental question: What is its purpose? Are we in the business of managing schools or educating people?

The plethora of ideas to fix education is born out of the frustration of families and employers who have become tired of the rigidity of those vested in the system who have mastered the art of ignoring citizens and tolerating elected officials. But now the customers — students, parents and employers — are not going away. The people have run out of patience. Our strength is that people care enough about education and the economy and are willing to argue to make it better. Many have become tired of being ignored and are coming up with their own solutions — vouchers, tuition tax credits, charter schools, choice and split school districts. Though each has merit that makes adjustments to the system, lacking is public discussion of how the world has changed, the challenges it creates and how we ought to rethink the purpose of education to meet those challenges.

The conflict over vouchers has divided our communities where each side believes it has the ultimate solution. It occurs when people lack a common purpose, or a vision, of what is to be accomplished and revert to advocating their favorite solution. As the old saying goes, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."

We no longer have the luxury of arguing among ourselves; the stakes are too high. Our nation is fast losing its ability to compete in the global economy, and our young people are not being educated and prepared to succeed in the world they face. We need to put aside our differences, come together as citizens, and renew the purpose of education for today's environment. Let's be clear: Our nation's past success in the world economy has been due to our education system — best in the world. We must not be satisfied with feel-good mission statements. It's not a matter of giving students an "opportunity to reach their potential," rather to prepare them with a world-class education that will help them, and our economy, succeed in a constantly changing world. That should be the purpose of education.

While we have leaders, public and private, who work hard and have made improvements in education, they have primarily been "shaped by influences" — by the experts in education, who from their own vested interests, influence what is relevant. Lou Gerstner, as IBM's CEO, saved the company from bankruptcy by changing the culture from allegiance to process, to being customer-driven. IBM began listening and responding to customers' needs. It's time we did the same; let's involve and respond to the needs of students, parents and employers.

We could view the passion over education as an asset and a force for change. In Utah, we know what can be accomplished when we pull together. As in any human venture, it starts with one person who can articulate a common purpose that can call upon the best in people and invite them to share in creating a new vision that is the model for others to follow.

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net