Opinion
In the last few years there has been an abundance of media attention on America’s education system and how it measures up to other countries such as Europe and Asia. Statistics show America slipping further behind and it is distressing and disheartening.
CNN correspondent, Soledad O’Brien’s documentary, “Education in America: Don’t Fail Me”, goes into several schools to view the crisis behind the American education system. She uncovered the naked truth during her interviews that included, former Governor Phil Bredesen, admitting Tennessee’s deceit in revealing to parents the reality about their students’ state test scores. This demonstrates the lack of ambition within state governments to push U.S students to succeed. The state reported that students were 80 percent proficient on their tests, while nationally only 20 percent had general knowledge in math.
If there is one thing that will guarantee the inevitable failure of our youth, it’s graduating students without giving them the ability or opportunity to reach their full level of potential.
There should be a certain amount of passion that goes along with educating students. In Asia, education is considered a top priority. With its overwhelming expectation to push success amongst its students, this allows them entrance into universities, not simply based on intelligence but on their aptitude to work harder and longer.
The U.S has always relied on replicating a process to make it better and by producing teachers and administrators with the Asian education system in mind might generate the positive results the US seeks. Let’s replicate and duplicate the process top nations are using to educate their youth.
Educational experts are saying that teachers, and parents alike do know that their public schools on a whole aren’t that good. In an astonishing article, ABC 20/20, John Stossel, interviewed students at New York’s Abraham Lincoln High School in which he found that teachers are oblivious to the behavior of the students. In fact, so immune that it’s common for kids to walk into the school smoking weed. Also, parents are more focused on sports than education.
Alan Dunn of Business Insider states “Education is something our politicians must find room for by way of obligation to their constituents and fellow human beings.” And, although Dunn’s point may hold true, in which some of the responsibility lies in the government to provide a quality education system for learning, it is not necessarily up to them to raise our children. Learning can take place both inside and outside of the home.
I, for myself, am less concerned with who’s to blame. We all bear responsibility for the inadequacy of our school system. Some administrators aren’t fervent enough leaders, some teacher’s aren’t as motivated, and some parents aren’t involved enough. There are many individuals that play a role in educating our future. Therefore instead of waiting for someone to make leaders out of our children, lets all contribute by helping our children make leaders out of themselves.
My name is ShaRae Kalian and I am an education and leadership advocate. I strive to bring about extreme personal humility with intense personal will to help others to succeed. I believe that the passion we have within us is the fuel that drives us and it’s the burning desire that says, “Let’s march! Let’s go after what we want.” It shows in my publications and leadership trainings. I believe that each one of us has a passion that is self-generated and a contagious tool!
