The Sage Observer

Education

My mother had an eighth grade education; my father had an eighth grade education; and they did all right. If an eighth grade education was good enough for them, why should it not be good enough for me? Why should I finish high school or go on to college? I’ll never use all that stuff anyway. That’s the story I used to hear frequently all through the early years of my life. Please forgive the vernacular, but what a bunch of crap. A college education today has almost less “job-getting” power today than a high school certificate of graduation sixty years ago; and a high school education isn’t important? Exacerbating the problem even further, many high schools today (if not most) no longer provide vocational school training. When I entered Jr. high school, “a couple years ago”, I was given a choice of attending trade school (we called it that then) or pursuing as academic curriculum which would prepare us for college. How is it done today in your school(s)?

Back in 1963, I had the opportunity to view an educational film on the subject of “Change” in which the following information was presented (This was a BNA Film; and, keep in mind, this was in 1963, fifty-two years ago—over half a century): A scientist in chemical engineering—an expert who knew everything there was to know on the subject, was given the task, beginning at midnight December 31^st of the year, to keep abreast of each and every change, i.e. advance in knowledge, which would occur in “the field”, i.e. chemical engineering, through December 31^st of the following year. At the end of that year, he was five years behind. Five years—imagine that! And, again, that was over fifty-two years ago—half a century. How much more change do you think has occurred since then? How much even more valuable has a high school or college education become since?  How much more important has it become for one to gain an education, trade, or profession? I submit to you that, for someone who cannot adapt to change, for those who refuse to progress in knowledge, life—right now—is more insecure than a nudist trying to sneak through a barbed wire fence in the throes of winter.

Our education system in America is one of, if not the, most important institutions there is to our national security, the general prosperity of our country, and our leadership in the world. If the whole is the sum of its parts, it is just as true that the quality of the whole is too. Unfortunately, this nation has let our education system deteriorate. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have “dumbed it down”. There are experts who have forgotten more on this subject than I know, but I do know this. For the benefit and success of our country as a whole, we must restore and improve our system of public education. There may be exceptions here and there, but one can’t educate students who lack motivation, discipline, the will to study, and equal opportunity to succeed according to his or her abilities. I didn’t say guaranteed success. I said guaranteed opportunity for success. Achievement is up to the individual.

To this end, I submit that our Congress enact an education bill, taxpayer paid, that will make mandatory, nationally, a system of education from prekindergarten through college or vocational school, whichever the student chooses, the successful completion of which the student will have a certified vocation, trade, or profession. He or she will be employable. The curriculum should consist of a series of courses standard for all throughout the nation (a common curriculum not subject to change) supplemented by courses within the student’s major course of study (student’s choice) and those additional courses which may be required by individual electives of the student’s home state.  

 

An educated and informed public is necessary for the overall good and prosperity of our country. A quality system of education will pay for itself from that increase in prosperity. Our G.I. Bill dating back to the end of World War II has proved that.

In the mean time, this is Ronald Miller, www.sageobserver.blogspot.com signing off. Email me at mtss86@comcast.net.