Recently, the state of education in America has been a hot topic (and rightfully so). With growing competition abroad, the reauthorization of education policy, and the state of the economy, people all over the country are panicking for solutions. Though there are large, policy-changing answers we can find to improve the system, there are also small, intangible solutions every day Americans can do in order to enhance the education of our young people.
For the past five years, I’ve worked in an organization that supports and supplements the instruction of the teacher. In doing so, I’ve been able to experience the problems faced by the teacher. I realize teachers have a lot of things they need to do in order to educate kids. With overcrowded classrooms, lack of supplies, and long processes, it’s very difficult for teachers to educate students alone. What my company is able to do is provide assistance, bringing in people to confirm everything the teacher just instructed. By doing this, students start making connections; they realize teachers are not instructing for their own health, and when the same thing is said from another person who has “swag” or they can relate to the student, then a connection is made. The education system is starting to improve.
I wonder, is there a connection with establishing a positive relationship with America’s future and the improvement of education? Is our society built on nourishing tomorrow or is it worried about what we can get today? We love to talk about our posterity and how we need to invest in the future today, but do we practice what we preach? It is evident that we are lacking in compassion for our youth (automatic rejection of their music, ignoring their viewpoint, disengagement of their actions). THIS IS STUPID ON OUR PART!!!!
One thing these young people have that we didn’t is the instant access to information. They can Google on their phone and broadcast whatever they find to the whole world in seconds. As adults, our responsibility is to:
- Develop a good report/relationship with our children
- Listen to their ideas/thoughts
- Advise/Teach/Discipline them the appropriate plans of actions (based from experience)
- Developing an environment for nurturing, learning and loving
Is this easy: no. The hardest stage in any process is implementation. It takes energy, effort, and patience. There are some stupid brats who don’t want to listen. We can’t save everyone. Our job is to make ourselves available so we can be in a position to teach/help someone who wants to improve. It takes a village to raise a child. Let’s not leave our children behind.
Mr. Matt Houston 