Right wing politicians have little interest in education, the rest of us who see reality are aware that our nation is falling behind every other developed nation in the world. Our system no longer works. Government involvement regarding curriculum, test scores, and standardization has failed our students at all levels. That being said, there is only one wrong thing to do about our system, and that’s nothing.

Wendy Bradshaw resigned her teaching position in Polk County, Florida, and posted it on Facebook. I have two granddaughters in Florida, and for a short time my daughter worked as an aid in the local school. This prompted her to home school both of her daughters, for the same reasons Ms. Bradshaw stated in her letter of resignation. (The link to her posting will be attached).

I believe that education at all levels is important for every American child. Those who wish to attend a university should have the opportunity and means; it should not be for the privileged alone. I also believe that education has one overall purpose above all others. Teachers have a responsibility to encourage free thought which is creative and imaginative.

Students who think instead of memorizing become self-motivated. A student cannot be forced to learn, and therefore standardized curriculum with rigidity, emphasizing test scores over actual knowledge, and discouraging open and honest discussion results in an incomplete education.

The best teachers I ever had encouraged me to not simply learn what was written in a book, but to have an understanding of the material, and ask questions. They inspired me and I looked forward to attending their classes. I was involved; I was a participant; I was not simply an observer.

Most individuals who choose a teaching profession have a passion for education, and a desire to fill the minds and brains of their students with exciting information. They certainly don’t do it for the money. When our educational system is completely formatted and there exists little room for creative methods, the student suffers, and the teacher suffers as well. They need the freedom to include their personal ideas and methods of stimulating young minds; these do not come from a manual.

The methods required by state and federal laws are not perfect, but it’s even a bigger mistake not to see the big picture; education must be the first priority in America. We are witnessing young men and women from other nation’s receiving some of our best jobs. The tech industry is saturated with young people from India, China, Japan, and other countries. There is little interest in mathematics and engineering in our institutions of higher learning.

In addition the fact is that a four-year degree in 2015 is of little value. Success in science, engineering, and technology require graduate study. In order to stimulate interest in these areas students must receive assurance that extended study is both available and affordable.

Very few working class families have the financial ability to pay for a college education. Our colleges and universities are cost prohibitive for the average American.

Our government will waste $612 billion for military spending, but the right wing refuses to address a far more important issue; the dumbing down of America. Every year one-half of the defense budget results in wasteful spending; not a dollar is wasted when it is spent to educate our nation’s youth.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Phil Roeder

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2