Profile: Frank Withrow

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: May 14, 2008

STAFFORD — Dr. Frank Withrow has a vision of the future for America’s school children that many have not thought of yet.

The Stafford County man who has spent his life educating others said schools should be more accessible to meet the needs of the changing student.

Withrow said the average 18-year-old has been awake for more than 105,000 hours of his lifetime. The average 18-year-old student with perfect school attendance would have only spent 13,000 of those waking hours in the classroom. Withrow, who received his bachelor of science degree in education of the deaf, a master of science degree in speech and hearing and a Ph.D. in audiology, said this concerns him because the average 18-year-old has spent at least 48,000 hours watching television.

“We really need to create a school system that captures their attention, and then inspires them to learn more,“ said Withrow, who has been an elementary teacher, researcher and school administrator.

He also served as the director of research and clinical services in The Department of Children and Family Services in Illinois, and director of development for the NASA Classroom of the Future from 1996 to 1998.

“When my I learned in 1949 that my brother was deaf, I knew then that I wanted to help the deaf,“ said Withrow.

He began his post-military career developing movies for the deaf and trying to find new ways of connecting with them.

Withrow said that so much has changed in the educational realm that our school systems need to adapt.

The doctor strongly believes that schools should be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with transient students working with instructors throughout the day, much like in a college setting.

Withrow also said that since computers and I-Pods have replaced traditional paper textbooks, students should no longer be subjected to the six-hour school day, as well as the traditional yearlong school year.

“The six-hour day allowed students to do farm chores and the 180-day year to help plant and harvest crops. As long as a century ago this was an obsolete model,“ Withrow said on his Web site. “Digital learning libraries can be available 24/7 every week of the year. Video on demand, interactive lessons, lectures by outstanding scholars and real life simulations can be available to all learners.“

The scholar said that if the United States is to compete with other nations around the globe, the educational system is in need of an overhaul.

“The USA produces only 70,000 scientists and engineers annually while China and India produce 700,000 each. The USA is in danger of falling behind such countries if we are not willing to expend appropriate funds on education,“ Withrow said on his Web site.

For more information about Withrow and his viewpoints, visit frankwithrow.com.