Our country’s politics are just short of ridiculous but
are quickly racing along to reach that point.
We all are aware the year is 2013 and the next national election
is a year distant but some party members feel the need to gain
a head start. Ads accusing officials of failing to properly
represent their constituents are appearing on TV, print news
media and via telephone surveys.
I
received a call the other day requesting I provide answers
regarding the things I felt needed correcting and how I
would go about doing so. I chose not to participate in the
survey
but my answer would have been; “I would like to find
a candidate that could think for themselves.” If
I wanted to advise what should be done, I would run for
elected
office.
At the very least, I would expect to be paid what elected
officials or their office aides receive for providing assistance.
As
I listen to endless political discussions, I hear many speakers
passing the buck. (Surprise!) Some say our country’s
problems are caused by the lack of “efficient schooling.” When
the discussion reaches this point, some are quick to blame
our education deficiencies on the seniors. They say the consensus
among seniors is: “I have no children in school
therefore I will vote against school funding.”
As I see it, the premise that seniors all vote against education
is totally wrong. Most of them have grandchildren in the schools
systems: why would they not support them?
A way needs to be found to improve school systems without decreasing
funding, cutting teachers or their pay. More thought needs
to be applied to how our schools are run and if we are headed
in the right direction.
I’ve met students who can barely spell their own name
and many more that have great difficulty dealing with simple
math equations. We have created more problems by providing
computers and other electronic devices to grade school students.
They allow them to sidestep the need to learn the three R’s.
(Remember them: reading, writing and arithmetic).
We allow conversations electronically in phonics instead of
requiring proper writing and spelling.
It
has always been my belief, since the advent of the electronic-digital
age: the new wave is
moving
us along
so fast we are actually
regressing. Before all of us have learned how
to store secrets electronically, others have
learned
how to
locate them. Just
consult with Mr. Snowden. And consider this:
the country he is hiding in is considering
turning back to the
days of the
Underwood and paper. A big problem with that
move
may be all the file cabinets where paperwork
could be stored
have
been
scrapped. With today’s electronic storage,
a complete file cabinet of information can
be stored on a stick
the size of your thumb.
As
I listened to a discussion about what to do to support our
schools, I heard another
remark
countless
times.
The pre-schools
have failed to benefit the youngsters educationally;
they simply serve as a babysitting service.
Too bad the kids
are not allowed
to be kids for a while instead of “achievers.”
Voting
against financial support for education will not benefit
our youngsters in any way — we
all need to support our schools. We could
do so by demanding
that
a
portion of
the
billions in aid we send to countries overseas
be put to work more beneficially in our
country for
education.
Most students drive, are dropped off or ride a bus to school
and have no difficulty finding it. A good sum of money could
be re-directed by eliminating the fancy facades; gigantic lettering
and elaborate landscaping. Flashing, electronic signage with
dates and time provide little benefit for students; they have
only to glance at their phones or check clocks in classrooms.
They are also expensive to maintain.
If all items not necessary for educating were eliminated, we
could reduce architectural, electrical, landscaping, maintenance
and a host of other expenses. There is no advantage for students
to have such expenses in school budgets. While discussing this
idea I was told that perhaps some of those items are paid for
with grant money: grant money comes from the general budget
funded by our tax dollars.
We need to study the needs of each school system, determine
how teachers can be trained and equipped to teach their students
what their future holds and how to function and succeed in
a new age. Perhaps less time should be spent studying the past.
With proper studies and a direction focused on education, we
may become an advancing country instead of one that is rapidly
falling behind.