Purpose Statement

American Education and Policy exist for the purpose of challenging the status quo, for improving the quality of instruction, training, or study, currently established for acquiring skills, enabling citizens to reason and make mature intellectual judgments needed for competing in the global economy; regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
Showing posts with label inequality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inequality. Show all posts

Sunday, December 10, 2017

When the Corrupt Lead a Nation

                                                  


American choices have led Americans into an age where hidden transgressions are being exposed in lives of leaders, politicians, and those society has learned to respect and admire.  Some of these individuals have made indelible contributions to American society and living. The concerns in this posting are regarding the response to such individuals in relation to the roles of remaining leaders and how they affect American people, society and education. Since no one is perfect, the expectation is that imperfect people can do great work; however, for those who serve as the leaders of the nation; whereas decisions affect every individual, the standard is raised and should be raised. Living above reproach is required, to reduce weakening the respect of the office which one holds.  

 Policy decision makers, and those who hold office for making decisions for education in America should be those who live with respectable values, and with integrity. As has been witnessed; claiming affiliation with a religious group will not guarantee integrity nor that an individual will uphold an office with respect. Therefore, investigation, examinations, evaluations, and screenings, should be conducted for possible leaders, to ensure that the best and most qualified candidate is selected.  Unfortunately, the foremost qualifications for vanguards for this day are too often dependent on their net worth.
   
Good news is that because several of our recent national leaders have been under intense scrutiny for corruption, this leaves those who hold an office of greatest responsibility at a possible crossroads for doing good. Letting one’s light shine so that men may see your good works is more real than ever. A small light will shine bright in darkness. Where leadership has been corrupted, and anti-American, one must stand firm while upholding the values that will sustain this nation. See the big picture, and know that present decisions will affect the lives of people not just for today but for generations to come. Recognize that the opportunity to make a strategic difference in the education of a nation is given to you; an obvious unique individual.  One’s agenda must include social justice without partiality as this is America, which consists of many and diverse ethnic groups of people who all deserve equal opportunities for education. One’s commitment to serve all the peoples of the nation will be remembered throughout history.


When inequality exists, no one wins. Remember that promoting a superior race will no longer be accepted in America, as too much time and change has occurred to revert or impose such dogma. Although laws are proposed in guise for advancing the lives of American people, chosen individuals, placed strategically, must be ready to fight for the good of American people. The agenda of the corrupt is for ultimately creating a compliant kind of society while bankrupting the nation of its Morales and judgement. Those strategically placed in roles of office must make their voices heard within a corrupt nation among corrupt leaders. Remember that the American people elected corrupt leaders because of their own hate, malice, and jealousy.  Beware, and on the alert, lest the few rich take control of the nation’s educational system while widening the gap between our children and their children, creating an aristocratic society.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Precedence of a Nation for Shaping Student Education




As I explored the top ten countries leading in education in the world, I recognized that Scandinavian; Nordic countries like Finland have traditionally led the world in education in the top five percent. This country located in Northern Europe is an educational super-power with policies that truly embrace equality with its principles and philosophy. One's policies cannot just use the words that no child is being left behind resulting in some children as winners, and some losers while the same opportunities are obviously not available to all students.  Curious to explore the people of the Scandinavia countries, I learned that although Finland and Sweden are still leading the world, they have had challenges of losing their competitive edge in education to other East Asian nations where students learn under pressure, cramming learning under long hours, and rote memorization.

 Republicans in America despise that democrats in the present presidential election speak of equality in education, as republicans seek to negatively associate democratic ideas with socialism. The disparity between the rich and the majority of citizens in the United States is obviously shameful, as the egocentric, and self-seeking have run this nation for far too long. To provide tax breaks for the already rich and to ignore citizens leaving inequitable learning conditions leaves a blight on our democracy.  Trickledown economics does not work. Unfortunately, greed, apathy, and reprehensible practices for economics, and caring for the citizens of this nation of the United States have dominated our society. However, fair educational practices can help to equalize many economic issues if opportunity is allotted regardless of race and gender.  So many practices of the United States are intended to perpetuate classes of people, but the leaders must be about equality. None of the reforms have ever been for real equality for all people. Many detest the idea of equality because they want to maintain supremacy but it's time for change.

The Scandinavian country Finland is known as a super-power in education because of an emphasis on equality even over excellence. They engage students in creative play and assign less homework compared to East Asian models. The Finnish have no private schools, or universities, as none are allowed to charge tuition. Finland has no standardized tests except a voluntary test taken in high school. Teachers evaluate students and create their own tests and as for teacher evaluation and accountability, teachers are responsible. Finland ensures that teachers are highly respected, paid well and given lots of responsibility. The impetus of educational policy in schools is not competition but rather cooperation. In regard to school choice, all schools are the same so the choices are not for something better. All students having the same education opportunity promotes social equality and not a star pupil contrary to the approaches in American society.

Curious to know more about the Scandinavian people, I was surprised to learn that among the beautiful Scandinavian people are also found the most dangerous people of the world including Islamic extremist of Isis. Many have been said to travel from Sweden to join Isis. Literally thousands of Scandavian teens have joined Isis and even German teens and thousands of Europeans have become sympathizers to Isis and are joining to help build the Islamic state; ISIS/Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

Overwhelming levels of hate and terrorism occurring in Syria and Iraq with approximately 20 to 25,000 young fighters, are motivated by the belief that they are key agents to the upcoming apocalypse. My questions arise regarding the education the people of Scandinavia receive and the religion of the area. I personally wanted to know what religious beliefs they have, and what they are taught that breeds terroristic behaviors. I found that Lutheran Christianity is the dominant religion in Sweden, having 6.2 million members. Islam is practiced by 5.2% of the people and is the second largest religion in Sweden. Atheism and Agnosticism are also wide spread in Sweden. A poll taken identified only 18% of the people believe that God exist and 45% believe in a kind of spirit or life source. Only 15% of the church believe in Jesus as 15% are atheist. In Finland, three quarters of the people are Evangelical Lutheran; the state religion, and the Finnish Orthodox which one percent of the people belong. Muslim and Judaism are also practiced in Finland.

I conclude by saying that the systems of the United States do not represent the Christian beliefs that we like to claim. The demographic data shows that 70.6 percent of Americans are Christians in the U.S. We are a Christian nation who does not represent Christian values.  Inequality and social justice remain a massive problem in the United States. Many leaders and policy makers do not uphold equality which is why our laws do not represent what we say we believe. Electing people to lead our society because they are rich or hold a high position in their community will not solve problems related to education. We must seek out stakeholder who will uphold human rights, dignity, equality, and social justice. We must seek people who are genuine and not who pretend to care; if we will preserve a humane society. I believe we should consider the values of Finland for equality in education, and see how success has resulted by caring about all of their citizens.


                                                                       Reference

Partanen, A. (2011). What Americans keep ignoring about Finland’s school success.                                              The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-                                               americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/