Maddi Gillel
Editor’s note: This is the third in a series on education. To see “The High Water Mark,” go here, the second article, “The Nose Dive,” is here.
The value of the second cycle is that many have learned the hard way what works to make a country strong, healthy, prosperous, safe, and independent in every way.
In his book Back to Basics: The Traditionalist Movement That is Sweeping Grassroots America, Burton Yale Pines expressed the yearning of the vast majority of Americans to get America back on track. There is a call for reform in many areas:
1- A revival of quality education by the national commission (A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform)
2- A return to the free- market system with less intervention by government so that millions of new jobs can be created.
3- A restoration of moral and spiritual values in both private and public life.
4- A reduction in taxes; federal, state, and local.
5- Paying off the national debt.
6- Turning public welfare programs into workfare, education, and job-creating opportunities instead of allowing millions of Americans to become permanently trapped on the poverty level.
( Burton Yale Pines)
There are many in our society who are doing what they can to resist that which weakens our country and encourage that which makes our country strong and free once again. There are websites that are forwarded to thousands to keep others aware of the news of the day; there are blogs such as this one, to encourage strong families, financial responsibility, and a return to values; many more of our representatives understand and uphold the constitution and know how this country should be governed; many families have remained sufficiently intact that they have been raised by parents and grandparents who lived during the high water mark of our society; technological knowledge is at an all- time high, which has its downside, but the upside is that more can stay abreast of advancements in every aspect of our society –law, medicine, marketing, agriculture, retailing, engineering, education, political science, etc.
Many parents recognize the weakness of the education system and choose to home school their children- and this has been going on for quite some time. Those children are in turn growing up, getting married, and home schooling their own children.
A College/University education was at one time, thought to be the only way to make a good living, but many are choosing the trades (plumbing, electricity, carpentry, masonry,) which is less expensive, takes less time, and will afford an ability to provide for one’s family ( of course keeping a strong work ethic in mind). Keep in mind, that one can do a lot of reading and studying about any subject on earth in his own spare time and become an ‘educated’ person – there is formal education and informal education and a truly ‘educated’ person depends on his own volition.
There are an increasing number who are becoming more aware of the democratic process and are staying in contact with their representatives – through technology. We can even sign petitions ‘on line.’
More reporters and journalists and radio hosts are choosing to be independent of ‘political correctness’ and can thusly keep their readers/listeners apprised of what the real story is, as opposed to sticking to the talking points-‘ business as usual.’
To sum up, it is no mystery why billions are poured into education. The ‘powers- that- be’ know that they have got to protect this institution. They can then do as they wish so children are raised to think along the lines of: indifference to education (reading, writing, and math) socialism, religious and moral apathy, subjection to outrageous behavior from others (bullying, assault, profanity, vulgarity, negative peer pressure, etc.) and a lack of understanding and appreciation of the constitution.
Once again, and as usual, the home is crucial in teaching our children values, reading, math, writing, citizenship, financial responsibility, and family stability.
There is hope.