THE REAL EDUCATIONAL SCANDALSSymptoms of a Colossal Failing of America’s Public Education System
Article Release Date: September 7, 2006 - - Very frequently the media reports on scandals involving teachers. For example on March 4th, 2006 the media covered a scandal involving a Geography teacher who had abused his position to indoctrinate students with his own political agenda. On April 11th, 2006 the media covered a similar scandal involving a science teacher who had abused his position of trust and power to indoctrinate thirteen year old students with vulgar anti-Bush videos while demanding the students to chant inappropriate slogans such as: “John Kerry rocks!”
Not withstanding that it’s the teacher’s responsibility to teach children how to think vs. what to think, it’s regrettable that the media chooses to focus on such incidents as if they were isolated cases when in reality this type of blatant disregard of school Board policies and educational codes is an everyday occurrence virtually on every campus across the country. This incident is only the tip of the iceberg and an indication of America’s failing public education system.
The truth is that America’s public education system is broken big time and is fast becoming the schools of the poor and a breeding ground for violence and indoctrination, as acknowledged by many high-ranking governmental officials (including Alan Greenspan) and the media. The real scandal is not so much that teachers, such as this particular Geography teacher or the highly publicized case of a certain professor at the University of Colorado, used class time indoctrinating our kids, or that 10% of students who have had sexual contact with their teachers (that can’t be fired), or the increase in sexual molestation by peers, or an increase in drugs and violence in campuses nationwide, or the categorical violation of students and parents’ rights, or even the increase in high school drop outs.
The real scandal is that we have educators all across the nation who exhibit political arrogance that regardless of their conduct they can’t be touched and be held accountable for their own actions (as reflected in these particular teachers going back to their jobs and back to business as usual of no accountability). These are the very people who are entrusted with our most precious commodity, our kids. Administrators and the school Board are the very people who have both the authority and the responsibility to do something about it but instead are looking the other way. They allow these harmful, questionable and illegal practices to happen everyday, often with their full knowledge and consent. That’s the real scandal. There is no difference between this scandal and some of the other newsworthy scandals (e.g. Enron) in terms of corruption, lack of integrity and the courage to stand up for what is right vs. what’s politically correct. The real scandal is that the very people who are in a position to do something about this growing problem, choose to ignore the problem, which is nothing short of a shock to the conscious.
Obviously, these educators exploit the fact that the system is broken and corrupt as reflected in a total lack of a system of accountability. Without an effective system of accountability, educators will not be held accountable for their actions (e.g. will not lose their job if they don’t perform with integrity). After all, there is no other industry/career field where the workers are guaranteed a job for life regardless of their performance and conduct (we’re talking about teachers’ tenure).
In the absence of accountability, teachers will continue to indoctrinate our kids with their personal political agenda instead of teaching what they were hired to do. Likewise, school administrators will continue to ignore serious problems such as bullying and sexual molestations by peers and educators on campus since addressing these problems would mean consequences for the perpetrators which will result in costly litigation in the face of a budget crisis.
Sadly, education is no longer about educating kids in the truest form. It has become a big business and a political football all driven by money. So, instead of focusing on a child’s education by providing highly qualified teachers to teach what they were hired to do, or providing a safe and healthy environment conducive to learning where each child is encouraged to realize their full potential, administrators focus on avenues that can bring the most revenues to the school (mostly to keep their jobs and not necessarily to directly benefit the kids) such as a child’s state and federal test scores and school attendance.
As a result kids are not learning or being adequately prepared for success in college, the workforce and in life with meaningful life skills to compete successfully in an increasingly competitive and technologically driven global economy. This is reflected in America’s ranking near or at the bottom on international test scores and multi-national corporations who now hire an engineer from Pakistan not an American for an important project in the U.S. However, the damage is not limited to our economy alone, which is dependent on highly educated and skilled workers. The damage is also intangible as reflected in an increase in social ills (from violence in our schools and on our streets to drug abuse and teen pregnancy and suicide), a decline in morality and human values and the destruction of the family institution. It is a “stealth” scandal because the American public has not yet realized what is being stolen from them and how every American is going to be impacted by it directly or indirectly. After all, the attainment of the American Dream has now become just that - a dream – for most of the new generation.
It’s the media’s moral obligation to address critical issues such as the growing educational crisis, which according to both Alan Greenspan and Sen. Ted Kennedy is a matter of national security (it takes technologically advanced, highly creative and talented people to protect America’s vital interests both at home and abroad and win the war on terror).
In the words of Los Angeles talk radio show host, Doug McEntyer (KABC), “Since the failing of our public education system is everyone’s problem, it’s in the best interest of every sector in the community, including the media, to step up to the plate and become part of the solution.” Anything short of that is just paying lip service and sensationalizing the news for rating purposes which don’t solve the problem at all much less serve the public’s best interest.
The need to appropriately address the root cause of our failing institutions, growing social ills and America’s declining leadership in the world has never been more urgent, simply because it’s linked to education and moral values, which are the foundation of a free and a thriving society. Given the high stakes, it’s obvious that transforming America’s dysfunctional and corrupt educational system is truly worthy and deserving of media attention.
To many whose voices can’t be heard otherwise, the media is a beacon of truth, hope and inspiration and therefore, spotlighting the continued educational crisis in America (from which no school district is exempt) needs to be viewed as an opportunity to contribute and make a meaningful difference today thus become a bridge between millions of children and their families who continue to suffer in silence with no one to turn to for help trapped in a cycle of despair and failure and their hope for a better tomorrow made possible by the generous spirit of caring people who have the courage to stand up for what is right. This sentiment is best captured in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, former U.S. president who said, "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in." Copyright © 2006, Geela
Author of “The American Dream” Geela is an award winning nationally syndicated columnist, author of the highly-praised book “The American Dream,” and founder of The Parent Advocacy Group ( http://www.theparentadvocacygroup.org) You are invited to reprint articles written by Jill Parish (also known as Geela) in your print publication, ezine, or on your website. These are FREE-reprint articles. The only requirements for publishing Jill’s articles are:
• You must leave the article and resource box unedited. Minor edition to the article is permitted, only for the purpose of correcting any overlooked spelling or grammar problems. You are not allowed to change or make recommendations, nor are you allowed to change the context of the article.
• You may not use any of the articles in UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email distribution of these articles)
• You must forward a copy of the ezine or newsletter that contains any of these articles to the author at: \n \n
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
• If you post any of these articles on a website, you MUST set any URL’s in the body of the article and most especially in the Author’s Resource box with hyperlinks. You must also send us a copy of the URL where you have posted any of the articles. If you find any of the rules to be unsavory or unacceptable, please do not publish any of these articles. While we are happy to make the content available to you for your own use, we must insist on having our rules and terms of reprint honored in full. Thank you very much for adhering to these very simple rules.
Reprint Permission:
Copyright Notice and Permissions Policy
1. Published material found on this site: All material on this Web site is copyright © 2006, The Parent Advocacy Group. Nothing may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of The Parent Advocacy Group.
2. Copying The Parent Advocacy Group material to other Web sites: Content from The Parent Advocacy Group web site may not be copied or posted onto other sites under any circumstances without our express written permission.
3. Printouts from this Web site: According to Internet protocol, it is not necessary to obtain permission when printing and distributing a small number of pages directly from this Web site for limited, non-commercial use. Under no circumstances may your recipients be charged for receiving these printouts.
|
