Education

            It’s been a long time since I set in a classroom for classes.  Elementary school, middle school, high school or college, it doesn’t make any difference.  It does seem that many things have changed and I don’t believe they’re all for the better.  I’m taking a few minutes in this blog post to express my opinion of some of these items.  Of course you can agree or disagree that’s your right.  But make sure you read the post closely.  Although I will mainly be expressing my disapproval of the changes I bring up, let me state right at the beginning that I am in favor of public schooling although I do think change is needed in some areas.  With all that being said let’s get started.

            Area ONE:  Parents!  Many parents use the school system as a “baby sitting” service.  They send their children off in the morning expecting the school to care for them during the day while they go to work (or do other things).  Hold on!  I know some will say that the law mandates that their kids go to school.  Or they will start shouting “I HAVE to work!”  And in many cases because of the uncertain economic conditions they really DO have to work!  Perhaps both parents need to be in the workplace to make ends meet.  But, in some situations, if families brought their WANTS into a true balance with their actual NEEDS it may not be necessary for both parents to work.

            Also, many parents have very little real interest in what their children are studying in school, how they are doing in school, what they plan to do after school, or pretty much anything else that has to do with their child’s standing in their various classes!  When was the last time you had a talk with one of your child’s teachers?  Not at the parent-teach conference.  But, arranged a special meeting with the teacher to discuss your child’s problems or needs for assistance in their classes?  Do you even know if your child is REALLY attending their classes?  You may be surprised by what you would find out if you checked?  I recall when one of my sons was in High School and we had the opportunity one evening to attend an abbreviated class schedule at the school.  We would sit in with the teacher on each class for approximately 15 minutes.  My son had six classes with approximately 25-30 kids in each class.  For EVERY class (except 1) my wife and I were the ONLY parents that showed up.  The one exception had another couple show up.  That was it!  Parents, you must be interested in your child’s schooling.  If you’re not interested they won’t be either.  And don’t think that all the education and training needed by your children will be taught them in school.  You have to do your part too.

            Area TWO: Children!  Some of your young people go to school each day. Congratulations!  Thinking that showing up is your entire obligation and that is it, you’re missing the key point of your schooling.  Have you ever heard the expression: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”! That statement can apply to YOU as a student! You sit in the classrooms for 6 to 8 hours each day for 4 to 5 days per week.  But you have to WANT to learn if it is going to benefit you.  Sadly, some of the students don’t want to learn and they make the classroom difficult (if not impossible) for others to learn either.  Unfortunately, the comments have been made, by some after they have reached adulthood, if I knew then what I know now!  Students should take their education very seriously.  Yes, your youth is a time to enjoy life.  But, you can enjoy life and gain a valuable education without getting involved in “foolish actions”, unwanted pregnancies, and making YOUR life and others miserable.  Another problem with many young people in school is they have a very low degree of respect for people in authority.  This they need to learn at home and most of the time many parents don’t teach this to them because they have very little respect for authority.  And although parents used to be children and know the really dumb things they used to do, they think their children are perfect saints When the authorities at school try to explain to them about something their child has done, they say “Not MY child!”  Things have gotten so out of hand, that video cameras are used in school buses in many areas because of the things children do when on the bus.  And there are times when parents have to review the tapes and they STILL don’t believe THEIR child would do what they saw.  I don’t know if they have cameras in classrooms, but some parents would be surprised at what happens there at times also.

            My last comment.  Area THREE: School Personnel!  Under paid, short staffed, often ill supplied!  Yet the school personnel, especially the teachers, continue to apply themselves to the task of educating your children.  Some of them are paying for supplies out of their own pockets so the kids can do various projects.  However, there are some within the educational system who abuse their positions and take advantage of the students.  These should be reported and dealt with appropriately.

            I’ve only voiced my opinion on three general areas.  Imagine the discussion that could continue if we got deeply into disciplinary actions, severe acts of improper conduct by an adult in authority, standardized testing for schools, the added burdens of continuous increases in taxes for schools, the subject of public or private schools, and many other topics.  And with the new appointment of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education many more debates are likely to develop.

            Let me add this comment.  The V-22 Osprey is a tilrotor aircraft, which takes off and lands like a helicopter, but can fly faster and farther like a fixed-wing plane.  Although the craft claimed the lives of at least 30 Marines and civilians during its development alone and former Vice President Dick Cheney tried to ground the plane, because of its range the Marine Corps plans to deploy a squadron of them to Afghanistan by the end of the year.  The cost?  $118 million PER plane!  And a squadron is typically 12 to 24 aircraft.  You do the math!  Think about this also, couldn’t we do with ONE or TWO less V-22 Osprey aircraft to fund some of our education needs?

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Why does it seem that so many smart people

do so many dumb things?"