We Should Protect our Public Schools

The election of Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States leaves many feeling apprehensive for the future of our nation, while some are believing that positive change is ahead.  Minimal discussions have been in the forefront of Trump’s campaign regarding the funding of public K-12 schools or education; which leaves educators like myself wondering, but hoping for the best. In retrospect, Mr. Trump has mentioned of school choice in his speeches, as through voucher programs, allowing public monies to pay for private school tuition. Our current President Barack Obama’s efforts for educational reform also embraced school choice. His Race to the Top rewards were given to states with innovative plans for, a) turning around low achieving schools; b) teacher effectiveness; c) data systems measuring student growth; and d) the adopting of assessments and standards for preparing students for the global economy. His Race to the Top reform resulted in rewards with a federal budget of 4.35 billion dollars. If states were to receive any of the Race to the Top funding they had to be amenable to charter public schools. President Obama spoke fondly of charter schools as providing choice for families.  

 My concern is that the threat of closing traditional public schools has become a reality in many urban areas. Selling the idea of alternative kinds of schooling for one’s child is a huge issue for many educators and urban families. While some charter schools have little to no oversight from the communities where they reside, I believe we should be constructively watchful of those who require more public school funding without any oversite from the communities. 40% of charter schools are for-profit schools and 60% are non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, organizations and public school unions throughout the country have had the challenge and threat of public school closures. The issue is relevant particularly as we see the strategies and plans for charter schools for replacing present public schools. Questions one may ask are: why not improve on the already traditional public school as the stakeholders and community are already invested in their success.  Why must innovation and improvement mean to scrap a societal system already in place? Where is the scientific evidence that says charter schools are a better choice or that vouchers will improve for equality in American education? Privatizing seems to be the recent buzz word in public education. Out-sourcing everything from school maintenance, school nurses, and substitute teachers. In the state of Pennsylvania, the newly elected Governor Tom Wolf signed a vetoed spending plan of 23.4 billion dollars; a proposed educational budget, while reinstating the needed funding to public schools contrary to the wishes of the republicans.  

I personally believe we should guard the current public school system, and fund them as an asset to our communities as we apply best practices from teachers and administrators, and the support of parents, stakeholders, and the communities where they exist. Providing the needed funding for educating children, can help to produce successful public schools in America that can restore American pride to our educational institutes and communities.  I do not wish to compare the charter to the traditional public school at this time, but I believe that with everyone doing their part, while not relinquishing ones responsibility fully to the schools, then the work of educating will be successful and rewarding.  To extract funding from already struggling systems is suicide. No school should be expected to function without the needed supports, tools and funding, while at the same time fearing the loss of additional funds for the sake of innovation or vouchers. This to me is futile. The NCLB act has been relaxed and much is presently in the hands of the states for improving education in America.  If other countries can value their public education systems and lead in the world system, so can America. I believe we should work to guard public education as they represent the system of the people.  As Abraham Lincoln once said of our government, we are a system for the people, of the people, and by the people. 

The Student Loan Crisis In America

I graduated from Temple University in 1981. As an undergraduate, my student loan was 7,500.00, of which I paid back in a few years shortly after my graduation. Today, young people enroll in college hoping to have a fair opportunity in adulthood. Many do not receive scholarships or special grants toward tuition and are presented with the dilemma of how they will afford college tuition since tuition is much higher than when I attended undergraduate school. I do not remember ever being confronted with the idea of parent plus loans when I attended college. My parents had six children and would have never agreed to such a program.  Today, students who cannot afford college are given the option of parent plus loans or not attending college at all.  Parents are forced to make decisions to take out high interest loans for their children for fear that their children will not have a fair chance to excel in life.

The problem is that students complete college often with all intentions of repaying the parent plus bill; however, parents remain stuck with the bill  often while their son or daughter pursues employment in their field of study in a time where employment opportunities are slim. In my daughter’s case, she had to go back to college for her masters degree, for a new field of study, because her original degree  from Penn State, did not produce relevant job opportunities in her field due to changing technology and professional networks. Just think, we live in what is believed to be one of the richest nations in the world, and a parent approaching retirement is stuck with a college tuition bill for her son or daughter. While many countries provide free education for their young people, we frown on them and call them socialist. Instead, in America, families struggling to educate their children become encumbered by debt from college loans. This is celebrated in our capitalistic society; where the poor systematically become poorer and the rich get richer.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders seemed to understand the need to help families while providing free college tuition, and for restructuring the loans for students and families, but of course he was called a socialist. So, we would rather promote a government where only a few at the top can afford to improve their educational status? Since the rich rule in America, providing help for common citizens is not something viewed as important.  Perpetuating a certain class is what seems to be the agenda. While one may believe that attending college will take one to a higher level and a better lifestyle, one then finds oneself trapped with a bill that ultimately does not significantly improve one’s situation if one considers the never-ending costs of repaying student loans.  The student loan crisis must be restructured, and hopefully in my lifetime.

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/

The Problem of School Suspensions

                          

   

                                

Arne Duncan served his role of secretary of the Department of Education since 2009 and recently decided to officially step down from his role leaving many accomplishments to American education. One area that he influenced with keen insight was the suspending of kindergarten students in elementary school. He recognized that racial discrimination has been a major problem affecting the suspension of students, as zero tolerance policies also affect minorities and can cause students to feel unwelcome to their schools. He advocated that rethinking suspensions must occur. Arrest, expulsion, and suspension occur too often whereas more constructive approaches should have occurred (George, 2014).   

My concern is that suspensions have often provided relief for the school environment, particularly in regard to students with emotional or social concerns, but are often non-effective with improving student behavior. Students with extreme needs due to emotional, social, or economical struggles, are too often repeat offenders. Their peers and teachers recognize this terrible cycle of suspension and feel helpless.

Imagine an impoverished child with a single parent who works two jobs just to pay the bills. The child has done his best to come to school but has struggled raising himself. His soiled clothing and odors affect relationships with other students, coupled with inferior thoughts, as he tries his best to achieve only to end up suspended for not following the rules. Soon, school does not help the child but becomes a place where the student feels punished for circumstances beyond his control.
Data shows that suspensions are imbalanced as only 5% of white students will be suspended compared to the 16% of blacks to be suspended. Boys are more than two out of three likely to be suspended. Students with disabilities twice likely to be suspended are 13% as opposed to those without disabilities (U.S Department of Education, 2016). The loss is too great as we can no longer do things the same and get the same results. Our prisons are filled with poor minorities who were at risk because of a system that was non-accommodating.

Recently, I asked a 4^th grade student who is suspended often, what she does when she is suspended and she replied that she sleeps late but does not get in trouble. She returns to school with a new hair style, and new clothing as the parents seeks to encourage the child in a way that she understands.  A longitudinal study by the council of state government (2011) shows that 31% of students expelled at least once repeat at least one grade. When these students repeat grades, and they are older than the other students, other problems arise, because poor behavior and bullying and disruptive kinds of behaviors often become apparent. The afore mentioned longitudinal study showed that only 3% of those suspended were for violence which is a mandated reason for suspension, but others were suspended for discretionary decisions (Council of State Justice Center, Breaking Schools Rules (2011).

My perspective is that schools must adapt a more holistic approach to educating children. We must not continue to punish children for reasons that are obviously related to economics, mental, or emotional issues, or any other deficiencies which are out of the control of that child or the families. Schools are placed in communities as the schools will be a reflection of the communities. Suspending a disruptive child may make things easier on the school but the long term effect on that child, his family, and community are crucial. The students and families will never receive that time back again to educate the child. Punishment must be restorative rather than punitive for all children. I support the ASCD legislation agenda to support communities to collaboratively strive to educate the whole student with staff and students who are supported, engaged, challenged, safe and healthy(ASCD, 2016). Through these efforts, I believe we can start to experience healthier disciplinary pratices..

My Political View of the Democratic Election

 I admire Bernie Sanders and the posture he has taken in the current presidential elections. His voice has helped to shape much of the conversation taking place in the democratic discussions. While Hillary Clinton has served as a first lady at the white house, state senator, secretary of state, and countless other responsibilities which have of course prepared her for the presidency,  I am thinking of personalities in the bible that God chose. People God chose were often the one not expected as King David had bloody hands, and Moses disobeyed God and although they played large and strategic roles as leaders, they lost their blessing. These were mighty men but their bloody hands or disobedience prevented them from being the one to continue to perform the ultimate task of deliverance. When God chose the one to follow, he chose the one with little experience or reputation like Solomon, who  was a young man and followed David as King, and built the temple. Joshua followed Moses and led the children of Israel to the promised land. God takes the foolish things to confound the wise. We must never rule God out of the picture.

 My point is that one's experience and knowledge may not be God's qualifications for higher appointment. When I first became aware of Bernie Sanders, I loved his message and his heart for equality among people in the United States and even the world. Bernie's desire for a  "moral economy" is outstanding and  definitely challenges the status quo! He has served as a tool to sharpen Hillary. Although she is the most popular among delegates, "iron sharpen iron" , and we have heard her raise her standards as Bernie has challenged her. This is positive and if Bernie does not win, we know that his voice represented all of us. We who are not part of that 1% experience the struggles and the lack that Bernie has brought to the forefront. I think of Bernie as "that voice crying in the wilderness", and I wish to thank him for all that he has done to help sensitize the overall objectives of the presidency in the democratic race.  

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The Truth about Education and Inequality

By Leah Spencer Hopkins

The issues of equality remain a top priority in education and in American culture but one must recognize that inequality is merely a symptom and not the cause for the lack of social justice in education and other systems. Too often our society chooses to turn its face to the matters that tarnish American culture and society in general. While segregation, racism, and slavery, have proven to be very much alive today, despite the good efforts of leaders over the generations, who have fought to make equitable change in our society; somehow, we still find that inequality is interwoven in every institution of our society.

Individuals continue to fight for civil rights and for acceptance, respect, equality, and freedom. When racism is symptomatic, the spectator often has no idea of what the victims of inequality feel and why they feel disquieted about their condition. Although one can only imagine what it is like to grow up as a superior race, the superior race can only seek to identify with what the non-superior race experience in America. Entitlement is real, and the entitled know that they are entitled to privilege on every level in America.

Entitlement contributes to one’s ability to make a decent wage for living in this economy. If one earns a good education, then one will qualify for a good job to help to avoid the stresses that so many in the lower class face. Good education does not guarantee a good job if one is in the minority race but the quality of the education will certainly create a greater-odds ratio (OR). If one happens to be privileged to attend a grade school and high school in an affluent community, then one may have exposure enough to gain the thinking needed for achieving high scores on standardized testing and will possibly receive scholarship or help for college tuition. On the other hand, if one is not so fortunate and had to grow up in a non-affluent community where one’s parent’s struggled and have to take out loans for paying tuition, then one has begun what I call the modern day educational slavery trade.  The lower class seek out higher education only to find that they have fallen into the rich man’s trap of taking risky loans in order to pay the tuition for schools that often do not prepare students for the current economy. Upon graduation, the loan payments begin, the debt to the rich continues and the cycle for the poor is perpetuated. The real battle is not a race war but a class war and the race war is a symptom and often a tool used by the super rich. As King Solomon would say, this too, I have learned under the sun.

While big business obviously has no compassion for small businesses, the middle class and lower class small business continue to support large businesses that do not care about the poor. This too is another modern day form of slavery. Paying low wages for an honest day’s work is slavery. The big companies pay minimal wages to employees that cannot begin to support their families. Big companies barely pay crumbs for earned education and hard labor while they earn billions off of the backs of the poor and poorly educated.

Race tensions have never ceased, as no matter how much money African Americans have made in this country over the years, we continue to witness their senseless demise, as their money is soon taken away through the hands of conniving individuals through intentional ruthless means whether through death or unjust courts. The senseless destruction, credibility, and the name of a rich Black man seems like fair game, but this too is slavery as the mocking of the name of a great African American is modern day lynching and also for the purpose of maintaining white supremacy. The savage attacks on successful African Americans are only to castrate or emasculate that individual for purposes of vain control. The evil has never stopped, as for centuries, history bears witness of this evil.

The senseless struggle for more education, more money, and more respect can obviously leave one with a feeling of futility, but I submit that one must never quit. Despite the the cycle of historic and modern day martyrs, we must maintain hope. However, our hope can never be in the man made systems as the systems were made for the rule of men. Many have come before us, and have fought for equality, civil rights, and social justice in education and society, only to see the same issues exist in different forms hundreds of years later. Evil may look different today than it did 200 years ago, but evil is still evil. One can certainly recognize that the cycle and issues of mankind exist, even as far back as Adolf Hitler; who hated the Jews, and the dark ages in American history before the abolition of slavery. Man’s unwillingness to embrace the good from all humanity, and those who are racially different is an awful blight. All over the world, inequality and senseless race wars exist. Mankind is attacked and threatened for the elimination of a particular race or group of people. This somehow provides a sense of satisfaction for the internal hatred and contempt that exist as if the insatiable thrills of hate and evil rule the world.

The evil is loose and has been loosed. We have witnessed the evil but have not identified the evil. People adapt to the evil as though it is a way of life and spend years seeking how to exist with the evil as if we have no alternative.  I believe that education is a man made system and vehicle through which change can occur in our world as the world is receptive to knowledge whether it is good or bad.  Education is a mighty power but can also be infiltrated. Although the system is usually quite biased, good can still emerge.

One must know that we are not forsaken. The world is not forsaken for God sees. Real resolution is beyond education and is found in the system that God has given and that system is love. When love is present, hate, disdain, inequality, and all other human corruption, and dishonorable behaviors will dissolve. Love seems unattainable in our world and in education where God is not acknowledged, but God has deposited himself in all of us in the form of a conscious. God calls us to follow Him because His very essence is love and will solve problems of the entire world. Evil will not survive where love rules. Through love, we will learn that our differences are needed for helping one another to uncover the the prosperity available through love and acceptance. For nations who boast of their faith, but emphasize hate, these nations are far from God. God so loved the world that He gave. The point is that God’s presence and influence in the world is available as God is knocking at our door right now. He can heal the world but we must let Him rule.

    

No Child Left Behind Act Replaced with the “Every Student Succeeds Act”

The“Every Student Succeed Act "has replaced NCLB act for K-12 education in the United States. Congress voted to lessen the role that the federal government will play in education, while allowing for more decisions to occur in the districts and states. The over testing accountability culture that punished states if students did not score proficient in math and reading will be eliminated and replaced with the “Every Student Succeeds” measure. States will now fix their own problems by creating their own tests and creating their own evaluation for teachers.  States will determine for themselves how achievement gaps will be closed. Arne Duncan says that the top-down, one size fits all system of NCLB will be replaced with a system of laws that are more flexible for finding the best solutions locally. The secretary of education Arne Duncan stepped down as secretary of education and has an interim who is nominated to replace Duncan. The acting secretary of education  is John B. King; an African American and said to be a pro charter schools advocate, as he founded his own charter school, just outside of Boston in 1999 (Camera, 2015).

Some things remain the same in the new system for K-12 education, including the federal schedule of testing (testing grade 3-8 and once in high school in math and reading); and the annual reporting of achievement scores with a demographic break down. New safeguards include the monitoring from states for the underserved students. The new educational law is a direct response to President Obama’s executive authority and call for change in education. The bipartisan vote and legislation of congress is represented in the “Every Student Succeed Act” (Camera, 2015).  

Obviously, selection of local leadership for local developments and strategies need to be done with the most care and discretion. According to Rivera, 2015, the act provides for the states discretion for developing their own strategies for the lowest performing schools of Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Governor Wolf secured an increased budget of 350 million dollars to strengthen education in the state. Now, we all share the goal for securing quality education for Pennsylvania (Reigelman, 2015).

                                                                       

                                                             References

Reigelman, N. (2015). Pennsylvania Pressroom, State department of education responds to congressional passage of Every Student Succeeds Act. http://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Education-Details.aspx?newsid=199