| If you have a flat tire, you do not take the car apart to | | | | coherent paragraph and are mathematically below |
| fix it. You simply deal with the problem at hand and | | | | standard. While this is not true of all students, there is |
| "move on." Why then, have we totally messed up our | | | | no question that the bar has been dropped so low that |
| educational system? It may have had a few glitches | | | | that the term, "the dumbing of America" is a current |
| but it did not require taking the whole system apart. | | | | catch phrase. |
| Our educational system is a shambles. Under the guise | | | | Today's students lack initiative and competence. They |
| of helping all, we are educating none. | | | | do not know how to question the world around them |
| When I was in school, which was quite a while ago, | | | | and they do not even know the geography of the |
| education was simple. We had college level, business | | | | world in which they live. The "cream of the crop" has |
| and vocational education classes. It seemed to work. | | | | continued to dwindle. Freshman year in college is now |
| Those who were going to pursue advanced education | | | | a repeat of basic high school classes as incoming |
| took the college level, or "A" classes. Those who might | | | | students are not really prepared in the fundamentals. It |
| go on to business school took the business classes. | | | | almost seems that a college degree is becoming the |
| Those who were going to seek a trade for their | | | | equivalent of a high school degree. |
| occupation went into vocational education. There were | | | | The system of education we used to have was not |
| variations on this theme but that is how it essentially | | | | perfect but it did not need an overhaul, merely a tune |
| worked. If you passed the classes you graduated, if | | | | up. We have gone from one education craze to |
| not, you did not. | | | | another and have ended up with several generations |
| The real issue in this system is that it did not really | | | | of young adults that are unprepared for the |
| address the students with special needs. To correct | | | | complexities of our rapidly changing world. The "nation |
| this problem and deficiency, we have dismantled the | | | | of sheep" is becoming a reality and with their |
| car to fix the flat and the car is still not running properly. | | | | complacency liberty and democracy will be in |
| Keep in mind that under the old system students could | | | | jeopardy. I do not really believe in the "good ole days." |
| read, write and do at least basic math. Before you | | | | Looking back we always tend to remember the things |
| passed the course you took a final to determine if you | | | | that seemed right and there is no question that all was |
| really understood the heart of the courses. Upon | | | | not perfect. Burt as far as education goes; our |
| graduation you were ready to attend College or | | | | students need to get back to the basics. |
| business school or you found work in a trade like | | | | Consequences for poor grades and misbehavior need |
| plumbing, auto repair, electrical occupations or perhaps | | | | to have some bite. Parents need to get involved and |
| office work. With this system in place, we became the | | | | support actions of the schools rather than always |
| most powerful nation on the planet and created the | | | | trying to undermine school authority which is at an all |
| largest world economy. If you could not pass the | | | | time low. |
| educational muster, you went into the military. | | | | There is no question that education needs to be |
| There is no question that under this system there | | | | relevant and the needs of "all' children must be |
| were students that did not get a fair shake. Those | | | | addressed. Until students and parents are willing to |
| with developmental disabilities were, in fact, left behind. | | | | take some responsibility for faltering grades rather |
| And, while this issue needed to be addressed and | | | | than blaming the schools we will be caught in a |
| corrected, it should not have been at the expense of | | | | downward spiraling cycle of growing ignorance. To me, |
| the entire educational system. Many of today's | | | | it is ignorance that is the root of humanity's ills. As the |
| graduating students have been short changed. Having | | | | current crop of college graduates assume the role of |
| to teach to the least common denominator, students | | | | teachers and leaders, my concern for our future |
| have found themselves with, at best, a "B" level | | | | grows ever skeptical. |
| education. They are poor readers, cannot write a | | | | |