The Need For Education Reform
Tim Williams
November 06, 2008
When a child is born the parent has a major responsibility in nurturing their newborn towards creating a lifelong thirst for knowledge. Young minds and especially infant ones are like sponges. They absorb everything. The best way to start to create that life long pursuit begins the sooner the parent gets involved.
Their are many of factors that have placed major obstacles in infants and preschool age children's way to acquire the attitude, ability, and attributes in creating that life long desire for education.
The United States educational systems have failed the youth of this country. Through supreme court decisions, the relaxing of standards in school systems, and the general Dr. Spock attitude that prevailed from the late 1960's to today have under minded the educational process from what we were at the beginning of the 1960's to our failure to even attain to be in the top 10% educational systems of all the industrial countries. Compound now the employment opportunities have begun a major shift to a more technology savvy workforce. The major question now is; How to prepare our youth for the jobs of the 21st. century?
In order to answer that question we have to start at what worked from the end of World War II to 1970. From that period the United States was a pillar for educational standards. Our High Schools were creating students that excelled to the top of the world in math and science. Today our students are not even in the top 15% What has happened?
First: The disintegration of the family unit. The majority of youth today are being raised by a single parent. Studies have now proven that when children are raised by a single parent compared to children raised by both mother and father the majority of youth who are raised by both parents performed better in school.
Second: Back in the 1950's and 1960's the United States was economically sound with a stable and growing middle class. Their was more deposable income for family's to use. The tax base was sufficient to provide all the services that promoted well rounded educational systems. The youth of that generation were provided with every available opportunity to participate in all manner of extra- curricular activities whether it was Athletics, Arts, or Music. Not only that; the education they received actually prepared the students with the ability to succeed in what ever employment opportunities they got.
Third: Students form elementary through high school have basically the morality of their parents. When compared with what was deemed appropriate behavior, dress and speech to today says allot about the basic decline of proper etiquette, manners, and our youth's ability to comprehend values that were instilled in the youth of the 1950's and the early 1960's. Not to say the majority of youth of that generation behaved like angles but they were better prepared for life outside of school than today.
What is needed now is complete Educational Reform. Charter schools, home schools, private and public school systems must aline themselves with the sole purpose of preparing the youth of today and the youth of the future for success in life. To be a contributor to society, the economy, to their country and to the world. Education Reform with that purpose will ensure the future of not only for generations to come but for the continuing growth and prosperity of the United States.
Their are many of factors that have placed major obstacles in infants and preschool age children's way to acquire the attitude, ability, and attributes in creating that life long desire for education.
The United States educational systems have failed the youth of this country. Through supreme court decisions, the relaxing of standards in school systems, and the general Dr. Spock attitude that prevailed from the late 1960's to today have under minded the educational process from what we were at the beginning of the 1960's to our failure to even attain to be in the top 10% educational systems of all the industrial countries. Compound now the employment opportunities have begun a major shift to a more technology savvy workforce. The major question now is; How to prepare our youth for the jobs of the 21st. century?
In order to answer that question we have to start at what worked from the end of World War II to 1970. From that period the United States was a pillar for educational standards. Our High Schools were creating students that excelled to the top of the world in math and science. Today our students are not even in the top 15% What has happened?
First: The disintegration of the family unit. The majority of youth today are being raised by a single parent. Studies have now proven that when children are raised by a single parent compared to children raised by both mother and father the majority of youth who are raised by both parents performed better in school.
Second: Back in the 1950's and 1960's the United States was economically sound with a stable and growing middle class. Their was more deposable income for family's to use. The tax base was sufficient to provide all the services that promoted well rounded educational systems. The youth of that generation were provided with every available opportunity to participate in all manner of extra- curricular activities whether it was Athletics, Arts, or Music. Not only that; the education they received actually prepared the students with the ability to succeed in what ever employment opportunities they got.
Third: Students form elementary through high school have basically the morality of their parents. When compared with what was deemed appropriate behavior, dress and speech to today says allot about the basic decline of proper etiquette, manners, and our youth's ability to comprehend values that were instilled in the youth of the 1950's and the early 1960's. Not to say the majority of youth of that generation behaved like angles but they were better prepared for life outside of school than today.
What is needed now is complete Educational Reform. Charter schools, home schools, private and public school systems must aline themselves with the sole purpose of preparing the youth of today and the youth of the future for success in life. To be a contributor to society, the economy, to their country and to the world. Education Reform with that purpose will ensure the future of not only for generations to come but for the continuing growth and prosperity of the United States.
Print
Email
