--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is sad is the fact that this entire…" description: "\"“What is sad is the fact that this entire growing industry has been developed around a system of education that is basically obsolete, and one that no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/russell-l-ackoff-12928_children_what-is-sad-is-the-fact-that-this-entire_1393843.png" --- # What is sad is the fact that this entire growing industry… ![“What is sad is the fact that this entire growing industry has been developed around a system of education that is basically obsolete, and one that no longer serves the needs of the children growing up to face the world of the twenty-first century. It is sobering to consider the unsettling effect…” quote by Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/russell-l-ackoff-12928_children_what-is-sad-is-the-fact-that-this-entire_1393843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/russell-l-ackoff-12928_children_what-is-sad-is-the-fact-that-this-entire_1393843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/russell-l-ackoff-12928_children_what-is-sad-is-the-fact-that-this-entire_1393843.png) > ““What is sad is the fact that this entire growing industry has been developed around a system of education that is basically obsolete, and one that no longer serves the needs of the children growing up to face the world of the twenty-first century. It is sobering to consider the unsettling effect that the not-so-gradual dismantling of this educational system will have on the large number of employees who will no longer be serving a useful function in society. We have already seen similar societal upheavals in the transition that has occurred in the world of industrial production.”” [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The current education system is outdated and cannot meet modern demands, risking massive workforce displacement as it collapses. **In simple terms:** Old schools don’t fit today’s world, causing job loss. Key Takeaway Rethink curricula for future skills. Themes education future of workforce disruption systemic change Mood concerned urgent Type analytical critical When to use this quote - policy makers - school administrators - career counselors - students - employers Key Concepts obsolescence skill mismatch economic transition Questions to Reflect On - How can we design adaptable learning pathways? - What safety nets protect displaced workers? A Different Perspective Even updated curricula may lag behind rapid technological change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Face The World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-the-world/) ## Related quotes > [It is sobering to consider that when Mozart was my age he had already been dead for a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/it-is-sobering-to-consider-that-when-mozart-was-my-age-he-had-already/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [we have not yet developed a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/we-have-not-yet-developed-a-system-of-education-that-is-not-a-system/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Do you know whats really sad? The fact that you see this old couple who have been together for over 50 years and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-kohler/do-you-know-whats-really-sad-the-fact-that-you-see-this-old-couple/) [Autumn Kohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-kohler/) > [“The truth is only relevant if you can prove it.” And wasn’t that a sad fact of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-leigh/the-truth-is-only-relevant-if-you-can-prove-it-and-wasn-t-that-a-sad/) [Melinda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-leigh/) > [It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/it-is-a-sad-fact-about-our-culture-that-a-poet-can-earn-much-more/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The sad fact is that horrendous human conflict is nothing new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/the-sad-fact-is-that-horrendous-human-conflict-is-nothing-new/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [“The sad fact...is that in this era of science and unbelief we have lost the sense of our own significance. We have become cruel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/the-sad-fact-is-that-in-this-era-of-science-and-unbelief-we-have-lost/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [It's the sad fact of how race still works in our country. We find that over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-s-the-sad-fact-of-how-race-still-works-in-our-country-we-find-that/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Genius inspires resentment. A sad fact of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/genius-inspires-resentment-a-sad-fact-of-life/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“One sad fact of the 20th century was that the more contact mothers had with health workers, the less they breastfed.5”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/one-sad-fact-of-the-20th-century-was-that-the-more-contact-mothers/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [Sad Fact: .. The people you don't even notice often knows your worth. And some people you care about the most makes you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sad-fact-the-people-you-don-t-even-notice-often-knows-your-worth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But, here's a sad fact: perfect isn't meant to be. When you aim for perfect, you just wind up ruined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/but-here-s-a-sad-fact-perfect-isn-t-meant-to-be-when-you-aim-for/) [Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/) > [For those aspiring to make a living from travel photography, it's a sad fact that the boring shots are the shots that are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/for-those-aspiring-to-make-a-living-from-travel-photography-it-s-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [The sad fact is that international politics has always been a ruthless and dangerous business, and it is likely to remain that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/the-sad-fact-is-that-international-politics-has-always-been-a/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [Because the sad fact is that the Enron Corporation and others manipulated with unfortunately great effect the energy market in the West Coast starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-inslee/because-the-sad-fact-is-that-the-enron-corporation-and-others/) [Jay Inslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-inslee/) ## More by Russell L. Ackoff > [Creativity is the ability to identify self-imposed constraints, remove them, and explore the consequences of their removal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/creativity-is-the-ability-to-identify-self-imposed-constraints-remove/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [Managers who don't know how to measure what they want settle for wanting what they can measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/managers-who-don-t-know-how-to-measure-what-they-want-settle-for/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say "no" but none to say "yes."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/a-bureaucrat-is-one-who-has-the-power-to-say-no-but-none-to-say-yes/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [A problem never exists in isolation; it is surrounded by other problems in space and time. The more of the context of a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/a-problem-never-exists-in-isolation-it-is-surrounded-by-other/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“Contrary to the impression that the educational system promulgates, there are no absolute answers to questions; the correct answer to a question depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/contrary-to-the-impression-that-the-educational-system-promulgates/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [Most corporate mission statements are worthless. They consist largely of pious platitudes such as: "We will hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/most-corporate-mission-statements-are-worthless-they-consist-largely/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“Reality consists of sets of interacting problems, systems of problems we call “messes.” As previously noted, problems are abstractions extracted from reality by analysis.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/reality-consists-of-sets-of-interacting-problems-systems-of-problems/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“Those involved in the redesign process must know what they would do if they could do whatever they wanted. Such knowledge is essential if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/those-involved-in-the-redesign-process-must-know-what-they-would-do/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [ “Cizek came to Vienna \[from Leitmeritz, a small town in Bohemia, then Austrian\] when he was twenty \[in 1885\], and entered the Academy of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/cizek-came-to-vienna-from-leitmeritz-a-small-town-in-bohemia-then/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [The future is better dealt with using assumptions than forecasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/the-future-is-better-dealt-with-using-assumptions-than-forecasts/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“One might wonder how on earth learning came to be seen primarily a result of teaching. Until quite recently, the world’s great teachers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/one-might-wonder-how-on-earth-learning-came-to-be-seen-primarily-a/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [The more efficient you are at doing the wrong thing, the wronger you become. It is much better to do the right thing wronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/the-more-efficient-you-are-at-doing-the-wrong-thing-the-wronger-you/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“The educational environment of children should encourage them to continue to explore the open-ended connections between their experiences, and to be receptive to new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/the-educational-environment-of-children-should-encourage-them-to/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [The lower the rank of managers, the more they know about fewer things. The higher the rank of managers, the less they know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/the-lower-the-rank-of-managers-the-more-they-know-about-fewer-things/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [It is the satisfaction we derive from 'going there' in contrast to the satisfaction derived from 'getting there.' Recreation provides 'the pause that refreshes.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/it-is-the-satisfaction-we-derive-from-going-there-in-contrast-to-the/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) [Explore all 49 Russell L. Ackoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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