Creating Educational Reform

A recent report from the nonprofit group Public Agenda, titled “Important, But Not for Me: Parents and Students in Kansas and Missouri Talk about Math, Science, and Technology Education,” suggests that although parents and students understand the national importance of math, science, and technology skills, they just don’t see these as important for themselves.

Do citizens in our country know how, or even want, to incite educational reform at the local level? How does a parent (without a degree in education), employer or lawmaker begin to shift our outdated curriculum and testing models toward a more 21st century system? A new and improved system packed with opportunities for global literacy, problem solving, innovation and creativity that naturally interconnect the workforce and society.

Today’s child doesn’t even know how to do the most basic of household work because outsourcing is an American phenomenon. Friends of mine will say, “They don’t care whether or not their children help out at home as long as they do well in school” – my opinion is they think that appeases me because I am a teacher. It sounds good, but I say in return, “school is about iniative, responsibility and independence, so what kinds of real world practice do your children receive in these areas at home?”

We are all stakeholders in this new society. We must all reflect on what we can do and redefine where education begins. Change is good. Change is inevitable. Change is happening now!

Education is the key – do you part!

Students need cash rewards to perform… a new era in education

New cash-incentive programs in the Baltimore school district, an Atlanta suburb and in the New York City school system are the newest “oh my word… how did we get to this place in our country’s educational history?”

Each program offers monetary awards for different ages of students (4^th – 11^th grade) and their cash offerings are anywhere from $25 to $500 per year per pupil served under the plan.  There is a strict guideline for which students “fit” the mold in each city.

I must give all of these cities and private organizations who are funding the programs credit for at least trying to do different to have different.  The drop out rate in our country is unacceptable, however, do we really have to pay kids to learn?

Learn and Earn, which aims to boost students’ progress and achievement in mathematics and science through cash incentives in Atlanta, Georgia believes, “the most important outcome within all of this is to help these students build the necessary confidence and awareness of their genuine educational abilities to be successful in school and life.”   I say, really? 

Do we have enough money to change the curriculum, change assessments and change the direction of our schools toward a 21^st Century learning model WHILE ALSO paying students to want to learn?  “You would love for students to be self-motivated, but … if [they] don’t realize that’s achievable, [they] don’t necessarily strive to do that,” said Jackie Cushman, the chairman of the Learning Makes a Difference board of directors who sponsors the Learn and Earn program in Atlanta.

It is true, our society completely accepts the notion that the only way kids will doing anything around their homes is for pay.  Parents are outsourcing meals, cleaning and laundry on the short list, therefore it is reasonable to believe the child has had no real opportunities to learn to be responsible and independent.  If our kids are motivated by money and things, their parents have developed this character flaw within them.  Our schools don’t need to add to the mess.

Children have the ability to intrinsically love to learn.  We can make education more tangible for kids by simply changing our curriculum and skills focus in our classrooms. We need to pay a lot of attention to who the students are and how they learn best.  Use your voice.  Education is the key… don’t allow programs like these to jeopardize the integrity of our nation’s educational system one more day. 

The entertainment culture

The Age of American Unreason, is a new book, written by Susan Jacoby, highlighting America’s overall lack of global awareness.  As I am reading this book, I can’t help but think of how quickly our society has become an entertainment culture, a 24/7 lifestyle of “instant gratification” with a “do anything for fun” mentality.  Many Americans define success by the number of hours they have to play, amount of money they make in a short time or the amount of material things providing them entertainment.  They don’t define lifelong learning as a reasonable way to have fun or create success in one’s life.  In fact, many Americans believe too much knowledge is a dangerous thing.  Huh?

Our “new age” culture of distraction is pervasive and each member of our society is susceptible to becoming anti-intellectual.  We must reflect on the trickle-down affect this is having on children.  Do children in America see their parents as lifelong learners who enjoy learning while being productive workers (at home or outside of the home) in our economy?  We tell our children they must go to school to get an education to make a living and ensure a good “job.”  Do we make work look like a “good” or “bad” thing to the children in our life?  In reflection, is our entertainment culture having an adverse affect on schools and learning in our nation?

Beginning in our homes, we should be focusing more on collaboration, communication, and cultural knowledge; as well as, critical thinking, problem solving, and self-direction skills.  For these are the 21^st century skills children will need to master in order to compete in our global society. 

Education (developing intellect) is the key to becoming successful… entertainment can come in the form of learning and we must encourage that notion.

21st Century skills - what are they?

Eighty-eight percent of voters say they believe schools can, and should, incorporate more critical thinking and problem solving, communication and self-direction, and computer and technology skills into the curriculum. The basics of reading, writing, and math were the focus ten to fifteen years ago. Schools were defined as “knowledge hubs,” but the knowledge being attained by the students was simplistic, outdated and impractical for our changing society. What’s more… we continue to function today with curriculum and practices from over a decade ago.The Partnership for 21st Century Skills poll of American voters, reveal that most voters agree, the skills students need to succeed in the workplace of today are notably different from what they needed 20 years ago.

In an employer poll, sponsored by P21 along with the Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and the Society for Human Resource Management, business leaders reported that while the three “Rs” are still fundamental to every employee’s ability to do the job, applied skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and communication also are essential for success.

As an educator, I see the need to build around the core skills. To deepened the student’s knowledge base about big ideas that matter in life and work. I was not a kindergarten teacher who taught about bears, the circus or dinosaurs just to teach the letters of the alphabet in order. I would teach about “Interdependence on the environment” (building on perspectives from animals, plants and people) and “How weather affects our quality of life?” Students need to communicate their ideas, relate to current events and collaborate to solve problems.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills found only 18 percent of voters thought critical thinking skills were being taught well enough; 16 percent believe that oral communication skills are being developed well; and 15 percent said ethics and social responsibility are being well taught.

Huge economic anxiety is fueling the movement to restructure our education system. We have always known that education is the key to future success but now that China and India are making great strides in education and workforce development, Americans are worried.

Education has to be discussed at every dinner table, company board meeting, school district administration building and political office in our nation. All stakeholders must take action and begin to create harmony toward high expectations for growth toward 21st century skills. This is critical to the future success of the United State’s economy.

Visit www.wigglegigglelearn.com to see how I am making a difference in education.

American Education in our globalized and Interconnected World

America is missing an ingredient of successful societies in the new globalized, interconnected world - the aspiration for education! Such an aspiration can exist in America! Let’s consider other cultures. The education system in Chinese societies regard educators as prized members of society. In India, toddlers go to the temple where priests paint the first three letters of their alphabet to initiate the life-long process of education. Americans are raised to aspire to be movie stars, all-star athletes and pop singers because their lives are portrayed as ideal. However, few Americans reach stardom.

We must share in the understanding that education is the key to transporting anyone from the lowest rung of society to the highest. Yet, we never hear that heros can be in education. Good study habits come from families in our society. As a passionate educator of young children, I long to facilitate a culture of education in America through my website - www.wigglegigglelearn.com. I want to make parents into their child’s first teacher and to make teachers in our schools honorable for the gift of learning they offer each child to whom they nurture. Our children deserve the right to be able to compete in our new globalized, interconnected world.