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