| Schools with grades K through 12 are largely funded | | | | Steps to reach this more liberated view of education |
| by property taxes, and home owners are increasingly | | | | might require new financial partnerships between |
| tired of paying this way for basic or higher education. | | | | home owners, tax-payers, governmental agencies, |
| Colleges and universities base their funding on tuition | | | | and private industry. Other steps might include finding |
| rates, but middle class parents are finding it | | | | ways to link the value of higher education with |
| increasingly difficult to pay for the ever escalating | | | | service to the community, and on the job work |
| educational costs. Schools in poor districts are very | | | | experiences. |
| often inferior to schools in wealthy districts. Colleges | | | | A closer relationship for our children with human |
| in wealthy states are usually better than colleges in | | | | service organizations, and potential employers, would |
| poor states. | | | | also broaden the scope of a comprehensive |
| Discipline problems, crime, substance abuse, violence | | | | education. In addition, this new bond with the real |
| are increasingly taking their toll on teachers, students, | | | | community could produce better qualified employees |
| and parents. The quality of education is also declining | | | | for the business sector, government services, and |
| by significant numbers for many high school seniors. | | | | non-profit agencies. |
| Lots of college students are deficient in reading, | | | | Reach Out For Help. |
| writing, spelling, and math skills. | | | | Why aren't our political leaders reaching out more to |
| Most frustrating of all, an undergraduate education is | | | | experts in the field of social sciences, industry, |
| no longer a guaranteed passport for a better | | | | medical, physical, and the health sciences to guide us |
| standard of living. It is long overdue for the | | | | in the pursuit of resolving our educational crisis? Let's |
| educational community to find a way to reform | | | | form study and focus groups to begin to revamp our |
| these conditions. I recommend we try using TLP's, | | | | whole approach. |
| Five Steps to Successful Living. Let's take a closer | | | | Our political leaders also need to work more closely |
| look at this framework for social change. | | | | with parents, students, and the teachers who know |
| Admit the Problem: | | | | the best ways to improve our educational approach. |
| Our educational system is in serious trouble. We can't | | | | Celebrate Strengths. |
| define who should pay for it. The present national | | | | We desperately need more people who can read, |
| policy of "Leave No Child Behind" has many | | | | write, think creatively, and act responsibly. We need |
| weaknesses: emphasis is on proficiency in reading, | | | | more creative managers, compassionate leaders, |
| writing, and math, rather than a more comprehensive | | | | dedicated skilled workers, and altruistic professionals. |
| view of education. | | | | We also need people from all ethnic, racial, and |
| What happened to social skill training, creativity, | | | | cultural backgrounds, who have values, morals, ethics, |
| physical education, anger management, music, art, | | | | and the persistence to get the job done. It is time to |
| citizenship, ethics, nutrition, critical thinking, family | | | | believe and passionately feel that our educational |
| living, and a host of other qualities that can help our | | | | system can find better ways to prepare our young |
| children become well rounded individuals? We must | | | | people for the challenges of the future. |
| consider ways to educate our children's hearts and | | | | The very survival of our nation and our way of life |
| bodies as well as their minds. | | | | will probably depend upon young, caring, bright |
| Make a Plan: | | | | individuals who know how to think and feel outside |
| We need consistent, integrated goals to educate the | | | | of the box. |
| whole young person from our neighborhoods, cities, | | | | I will continue our discussion about educational reform |
| states, and federal government. It is time that we | | | | in my next article called The Dark Secret About |
| get involved in speaking out against a narrow and | | | | Education Part II. |
| limited view of education. | | | | Mr. Eby is a Master Social Worker with more than 30 |
| Let us develop unified, national, educational policies, | | | | years of professional experience. He is the author of |
| which define performance standards based on mind, | | | | Challenging Your Dark Secret. He currently works as |
| body, and emotional wellness. In short, education | | | | a therapist and counselor for Options of Southern |
| should embrace emotional health, physical health, as | | | | Oregon, the local mental health agency. He has also |
| well as mental health skills to build character for our | | | | provided online life coaching services on eBay for |
| children, adolescents, and young adults. | | | | many years. |