In order to build a stronger, more self-sufficient America, America must first be willing to change. To build a progressive and competitive society, America's most important challenge is to change its antiquated educational system. In every political administration, education must be first and foremost. Without a strong and revitalized educational system, America will never progress to greatness nor be able to alleviate any of our other ills.
The three R's - reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic - is how our children have been taught since the beginning of time. But we're now in the twenty-first century, and we have a responsibility to our children, to America's future, to educate tomorrow's leaders and teach future generations the skills they need so they can survive in a world that is becoming increasingly more difficult to survive in.
Today's youth are not like yesteryear's innocents. There are no more shows like Leave It To Beaver or Father Knows Best. Instead, we have accepted the censors lack of discretion where our children (and adults) are concerned by inundating the airwaves with swear words never before heard on television. It has become part of our children's language, and school teachers cannot do anything about it because the media has dictated that freedom of speech, of any speech, is the accepted norm, the right of all Americans, no matter their age. How could it be bad, many ask? They hear it everyday on TV. If it was bad, it wouldn't be allowed into our living room. The news programs have become more graphic, verbally and visually, educating our children more in the ways of adult themes and topics, like never before. And our morals have changed for the worse as our children are taught that their sexuality begins at an earlier age, and it is an important and exciting part of their lives.
Today, our children's rite of passage precedes their concept of right or wrong. Along with that open education, computers and the information highway, our children are more intelligent, more worldly, and older than children of similar ages were decades ago. Since we can't go back in time, although many adults wish we could, we need to treat our children as the young adults they have been forced to become. Consequently, America has to drastically reinvent its schools. Teacher tenure should be abolished in that this reward is irresponsible to the family and the consumer. If someone is doing an inadequate job then that employee should be monitored, and, if need be, replaced. No contract, like the rest of America's workplace, should be lifetime. This would ensure quality education.
America must do away with the law that its children can quit school at sixteen. All children must stay in school until graduation; if not public, then in vo-tech schools learning a trade. The excuse that a child must go to work at sixteen to help support their family does irreparable damage to the future of the child being forced to be his family's provider. Staying in school until graduation will break the chain of poverty, and, with it, crime and welfare will greatly diminish.
The school day must be longer. America is in last place in first world education. There is no reason why the school day must only be (approximately) six hours long. By increasing lunch by ten minutes (so our children don't have to wolf down their food), and by adding another five minutes for passing to one extra class, and forty-five-minutes for that class, our school day will be only one-hour longer. This would make a big difference in the quantity of education our children.
But, it's quality we must have for our children to rise to their true potential. To achieve that goal, American schools must incorporate into their present curriculum new Life Studies courses to prepare our children for the world in which they are becoming an integral part. Within partnership with the fifty state universities and state public education commissioners, along with noted educational psychologists and sociologists, a Master of Science Degree would be offered in part scholarship to already certified teachers.
American schools must add these Life Study courses and stay open an hour longer each day if America wants to be a competitive force in the twenty-first century.
This Education Reinvention Bill would help working parents, especially single mothers, in that their child will in school an hour longer everyday, costing them less in day care, thus receiving more in salary to help the family, therefore more taxes paid to the government on salaries and durable goods. This is financially greater than the tax refund that has been gratuitously given to America's middle class.
On the elementary level, classes in creative writing, confidence and self-esteem, manners and etiquette, ecology and the environment, safety, and the new 3R's (respect, responsibility, and reward) would be added to the yearly curriculum; one course for each grade level.
On the intermediate level, students would be required to take yearly courses in money management, interpersonal communications, and social awareness (which would include a cooperative commitment in volunteerism).
High school students would study one course in each of their eight semesters in career development, comparative cultures and religions, philosophy, ethics and morality, analytical and deductive reasoning, persuasive speaking, colleges, and parenthood.
The cost of educating these teachers and creating jobs for them in every public school sector would be repaid when the first graduating class enters mainstream America. With mandatory student graduation, the cost for this new educational system will be repaid with the money saved on law enforcement and a consistently reduced welfare system, along with more people in the work place paying taxes and generating money in American commerce.
The Education Reinvention Bill is not just imperative for our children's success, but for our country's survival. There is a lot America must do to change for the better and again be a respected force in today's world. Education reform is just one of many ways we can accomplish that goal.
It is also the most important one.
Bruce Schwartz is a lifelong political activist. THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, his novel on politics today, discusses this subject as well as others that affect every American. It is on sale on the Web at http://www.thetwentyfirstcentury.com and at http://www.thetwentyfirstcentury.com All of the author's royalties will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
Culver prom limo ..The Right's defense of John Thune in the Dan Nelson/MetaBank... Read More
United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), one of the most... Read More
With the world's largest oil and natural gas reserves, second... Read More
Some people say that we cannot put a colony on... Read More
We have known of the innate characteristic need of members... Read More
Mexican has tariffs on goods, which come into its country... Read More
As you know Delta Airlines is close to bankruptcy. Their... Read More
I hear it all the time; you can't say that.... Read More
The great people of the United States of America deserve... Read More
What is the so-called "nuclear option" that Senator Bill Frist... Read More
Believe it or not, every theatre, church, or Britney Spears... Read More
Since the court case was over turned against Arthur Anderson... Read More
Publicity is correlative to your position in the community. Seldom... Read More
With pain rocking through my whole body today, I cast... Read More
We see today a fierce unspoken competition between trucks and... Read More
I would like to pose a question. I am unsure... Read More
Is the only way to fight Fundamentalist Extremists becoming one... Read More
What ordinary people are saying about U.S. televangelist Pat Robertson... Read More
"Fahrenheit 9/11" auteur Michael Moore recently fueled the epidemic of... Read More
(1) Each person is to have an equal right to... Read More
A governing.com report blast one of the major grassroots initiatives... Read More
Heavens, what are we up against? It seems these days... Read More
"The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
Revitalization Downtown projects are all the rage in fact the... Read More
Do you find it interesting that people complain about the... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Even the most devout proponents of free marketry and hidden... Read More
What has really changed in the housing market with regards... Read More
Are you happy with all this so-called security after 9-11?... Read More
Ok, here is what happened: On March 31, 2005, Pat... Read More
In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure... Read More
Up until the final debate at Arizona State University, the... Read More
"It is the duty of every citizen according to his... Read More
Our trade deficit is directly proportional to our attacks on... Read More
The man on the tape raised his hand, pointing a... Read More
Large parts of the world today suffer from a severe... Read More
Roberto Calvo Macias, a young author and thinker from Spain,... Read More
Well having studying the need for decreasing America's dependence on... Read More
It cities across America water is an issue, the flow... Read More
The United States has never done a full study on... Read More
After 9-11 insurance rates on Independent Truck Drivers and smaller... Read More
I am personally calling for a total disbanding of the... Read More
Recently the FTC, Federal Trade Commission put forth a report... Read More
Non-lethal Goo Concepts have been tossed around by many war... Read More
I propose a special Projection Device code-named: "TIPED". This system... Read More
Since the court case was over turned against Arthur Anderson... Read More
Year Item Price Rate of Inflation 03/80 Gasoline (per gallon)... Read More
Many Americans feel betrayed by their government, our government. I... Read More
A quick look back at NAFTA; how did we do?Stabilizing... Read More
How many legs does a dog have if you call... Read More
You have in front of you two buttons, one is... Read More
Political |