I consider my earlier years of the past an enjoyable lifetime − a life full of good, memorable events that far outweigh unhappy ones that might have crossed my path. But now, these tired, seasoned eyes are seeing ugly changes evolving in a country I love deeply, and I don’t like it. As a member of America’s hard working middle class that is slowly being trampled to extinction, it pushes me to give voice to my thoughts.
I worry about my great grand children who are just beginning their lives. When there were only my children to care about, I was concerned about their future. But now with great grand kids in the family, I worry about the kind of country we are leaving for them. Something is very wrong, and we need to steer this great land of ours in a better direction.
I cannot help but hear daily media reports of countries all around us, like Finland, South Korea, India, and China who are now Number One in producing large numbers of professionals with a much higher degree of intelligence. What a shameful thing to happen to our nation − a deep, crying shame.
It is not the teacher’s fault, we know that. Common sense tells us that the fault lies in this country’s education system and skewed immigration policies − among others. These two have helped lower the level of intelligence in our society, and seems that the only thing our leadership has been able to accomplish is a dumbing down of America.
I have more to say about failures in Immigration policies, but first I want to express some thoughts on Education. A news outlet reported the United States is on a collision course with the future, since far too many Americans do not complete college. Like most Americans, I think the educational system needs to upgrade standards; some textbooks are badly written just so they can adhere to politically correct policies in this ‘cool’ age.
Instead of placing emphasis on important subjects like Math and Science, there seems to be more concern with programs like third gender indoctrination. Maybe if Education Department policy makers start thinking again of the basic three R’s; ‘Reading, Riting and Rithmetic’, the light bulb above their heads will start flashing.
The Department of Education does not suffer from manpower to do the job, they have plenty of it. It presently consists of five executive departments, and under it, are twenty three different agencies with a variety of programs. Their beaurocratic expansion is just like other federal agencies that presently keeps sucking billions of tax payer money − not unlike the black hole among the galaxies that keeps swallowing stars. They need to streamline their operation to a lean and efficient organization.
In mid 2011, Historian David McCullough, a twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal. He said that history text books have become, “so politically correct as to be comic. Very minor characters that are currently fashionable are given considerable space, whereas people of major consequence farther back are given very little space or none at all. We’re raising young people who are, by and large, historically illiterate.” And speaking from past experience, I can unequivocally state that Mr. McCullough is right on target in this particular statement. You will see what I mean later.
He also said, “History is often taught in categories.” Such as, “Women’s History, African-American History, Environmental History, so that many of the students have no sense of chronology.” They’re completely lost as to what follows what.
“History is a source of strength,” he continued. “It sets higher standards for all of us…people who come out of college with a degree in education and not a degree in a subject, are severely handicapped in their capacity to teach effectively because they’re often assigned to teach subjects about which they know little or nothing.”
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported in 2010 that “only 12% of high school seniors have a firm grasp of out nation’s history.” Apparently, Mr. McCullough began to worry about a history gap some 20 years ago when a college sophomore approached to thank him after a lecture.
She told him that until she heard him talk, she was “not aware that the original thirteen colonies were all on the east coast.” That friends, is real sad. Mr. McCullough states he “was shocked” when he “learned of the ignorance of our young people,” and I know many of us feel the same way.
Instead of massaging popular trend movements and certain minority groups as part of history, the Department of Educations should emphasize an honest, common sense approach of plain, factual historical information. Presently, this nation, our United States of America who we consider the best in the world, is being left way behind.
We have over 3 million teachers, who we should thank daily for what they do. They are not to blame – they love to teach, but they need defined direction and efficient tools that include relevant details so that a student will comprehend fully what is being taught. The federal educational system just needs a good, old fashioned overhaul.
Historian David McCullough went on to say, “Teachers are the most important people in our society. They need far more pay, obviously, but they need more encouragement. They need more respect. They need more appreciation from all of us. And we shouldn’t do anything to hinder them or to make their job harder.”
Mr. McCullough further added that it wasn’t the fault of the teacher that our children are ignorant, “It’s our fault…I mean the parents and grandparents of the oncoming generation. We have to talk about history, talk about the books we love, the biographies and histories…We should all take our children to historic places.”
I am reminded of what Will Rogers is quoted as saying; “If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?”