A "cradle-to-career educational pipeline"?

I cannot believe our education secretary actually referred to a "cradle-to-career educational pipeline" as a positive goal to be sought.

Oy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112002391.html

The article is about the value of creative play, and how the push for earlier academics diminishes the opportunities kids have for play.