More Thoughts for Bette
Aloha Michael: Another thought about education and it’s about what I call the dumming down of America. Today curriculum is watered down, tests are watered down, teachers aren’t paid well, so quality of teaching is watered down. There are a lot of jobs out there but we’re not giving children the education they need to take them. The political ramifications are scary. We graduate millions with limited or no skills, these individuals become very easy to control politically, and have a tendency to demand endless entitlements from the government, so we move closer and closer to socialism. What happened to quality teaching, challenging curriculum, letting youngsters know they can be successful, and exposing them to the fascinating careers out there today. There’s no support given on the road to educational success? How about building the confidence they need. My grandson, who is a senior in high school, is an A student, two years in the Air Force Civil Patrol Program, has TWO CLASSES a day, that’s it. He’s out of school by 11:30 AM. This happens everywhere, and we wonder why teens get into trouble???? Where does all that money go that is poured into education?????? The verizon e-mail problem we experienced for a week resulted in quite a backlog. After scanning a number of Civic Digests I realized how many of the articles are negative, gloomy, and critical. For all the topics that are negatively discussed, no one offers any solutions. If half the amount of energy that goes into being critical went into developing solutions, it might make a difference. I did learn some things about Ireland. I’ve decided in my life I like working on solutions rather than being part of the problems! A hui hou, Bette
Bette,
You are right. A major problem. In many ways the root of so many things wrong nowadays. You, Bill Gates and countless others have the same concern. Education is where it is at. My suggestions are to get the bureaucracy out of education. It needs to be more local in direction. The teachers are the most important aspect. We need to back the teachers. Too much funding goes into administration.
We can all recall a teacher who inspired us, who turned us on. A teacher who stimulated us into independent thinking. We do not need emphasis on regimentation. Standardization of test scores nationally ignores the uniqueness of so many areas in our large country.
Robert Reich has recently suggested that funding should not depend on local property taxes. This hurts lower income areas and means they receive less funding. Of course this impacts on the quality of education in areas where it is most needed. Students need to be taught how to do things for themselves in constructive ways. Otherwise why not make an easy career of the drug business?
To get to the nitty gritty everyone needs to get more involved. Not just the politicians but more important the parents and the rest of the people. We are all effected by the quality of education. Raising all boats can only help in every way. Get on the school board. Be active in PTA’s. Local participation is the key.
You write of reading all the negative news. In running the Civic List I have many times despaired. Where is there anything with a bright future? Well, it is right here. We are the bright future. No matter what side of the fence you are on to enter the stream of dialogue is the answer. In the past I served in many governmental ways. Should I withdraw? No one should. In any way we need to keep involved.
Carpe Diem
Michael
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2005 at 11:09 AM and filed under Articles. Follow comments here with the RSS 2.0 feed. Post a comment or leave a trackback.
EDUCATIONNo, Michael, I don’t think you should withdraw-not in my life time or the next. At least, I’ll always wave hello to you my friend-wink of an eye-things like that show we know…yea!
However, Bette is right when money is going elsewhere. I too like her grandson was in the Civil Air Patrol. It saved me from getting killed by Marines on the streets in Kailua, HI.
Bette, if your grandson decides to use those skills-and more than any other branch of the service-he’d better start learning fast, reading a lot which the CAP does provide a curriculuum about the history of flight because to compete in the Air Force he’s gotta be innovative.
OK-back to my issue-There are those times for instance, when the topic of religion makes every one go bonkers and I too am guilty and have added my measured insults resulting in the familiar name calling that we boys did before we were turned on too girls or each other.
Well, it’s because I await, and wait but nobody steps in. OH ya, occassionally, there are the ‘ol transparent ones but no one comes in with any real critical thoughts…except my friends Barbara, Ian, Richard and the ‘Cactus in the Crowded Locker Room’.
For instance, and I won’t get too academic here, but history which I am fast learning tells me that the Constitution was drawn up during a time of enlightenment, at least there’s that thought going around.
All the founders were mixed; an aethist, an agnostic, a deist. I don’t think there were any Christians there because what were Christians back then anyway? I don’t know.
Additionally, all of them agreed to use the language they choose to define America. These were forward thinkers, Universalists careful to understand that they or any of the immigrants that would come, came here because of the ‘pursuit’ of ‘freedom’ and yes, away from ‘religious persecution’.
Our founders were deliberate in framing the Constittution-it wasn’t wrapped up post haste.
No mention of a Christian Nation-No mention of one ‘Nation Under God’ or ‘In God We Trust’.
Those were a monition, if you will, added in the late ’50’s hence the start of the revolution.
Someone broke into it all deliberating creating chaos-just like today with the crap about the 2 Commandments (10)-I don’t think there were ten-why 10 not 3?
Beatniks, (Michael heart is one), our forefathers, hippies and today’s activists’ actually may not have started it all-maybe it was those ‘flappers’!
Seriously, though Michael, to think otherwise, that this nation was founded on Christianity is bombastic, indulging in self-importance, arrogant, ignorant and frankly, not doing their part to come together.
We should have these misinformed killers of Indians go and ask if their eternal brothers and sisters really believed that this nation was a Christian Nation…when they first stepped on the continent from those floating silver bubbles from the sky and if we are…brother to brother…why after all these years are the Indians, the Blacks, the Chicano’s, matter of fact, take any of them BROWN skinned puppies and you’ll see what Christianity has done to them…but I digress.
Ah, Yes…The Constitution of The United States of America or is the tide changing ever so quickly into Nazi America?
Posted on 02-Mar-05 at 8:40 pm | Permalink