You can tell that newspaper readership is down significantly.
You can also tell which news outlets on TV are supported by which age groups
and ideologies. The cancerous discourse that is plopped into public view via
blogs, columns and Facebook and Twitter feeds are legion.
Too bad they are often wrong or wrong headed. Few attempt to
check the facts before opining on something. Most stubbornly stick with their
preconceived positions and ideology. Thus discourse is anything but a sharing
of well formed ideas and conversation.
It is merely a shouting match. Much like the ads that are
broadcast by candidates for office, interest groups or organizations with
specific views – mainly the anti abortion and pro gun lobbies.
Personality destruction appears to be the tactic. So too
anyone who holds a view opposite of the advertiser.
Unfortunately for all of us, none of this discourse helps
deal with the problems we are ‘talking’about. Those topics remain with us and
beg for solutions.
Rather than making a broadside attack on education, why not
simply say the educational system has grown old and weary and needs refreshing
if not replacement? It is time for a total makeover. And that message should be
welcome. We have asked our educators for generations to ‘make do’ with too
little resources and too much mandate of agenda. Neither is a good thing.
You and I are not the professional educator. We must ask real
educators to engage in a renewal process for the entire system. This is not a
reflection on them or their unions (well maybe!). I’m more concerned that the
funding agencies and the decision makers on funding are too
politically motivated and jaundiced to do a proper job. I think it is time for
the old system to continue until a new system is invented, vetted, and ready
for implementation. This will take years
of serious work. But then switch over to it!
The payback will be enormous. Education is the most direct
investment a society makes in its people. Its citizens. The people are the
source of all in society, and they should be benefiting from all of society at
the same time. This is not about power or money. It is not about ideology
unless you believe deeply that all education is private and should not be
funded by public sources. I would argue that point back to the Constitution and
the American Revolution. And the Civil War. If you don’t get the points of
those three primary elements, then you likely are not much of an American. Re-read
your history!
Education is how one generation informs and prepares the
next generation to engage in society going forward. It is also how we teach our
young to adapt to change and new things. In similar fashion we can help people
of all ages learn new things and adapt to changing conditions, careers and
livelihoods. Quality of life has many components. How many do we teach our own
people? And how much about the rest of the global community do we teach our own
people?
If our society is to be sustainable it must learn to deal
effectively with all manner of things, movements and changes. Our society must
adapt and regenerate itself. This is how we invent and create worthwhile
things. It is a product of adaptation. Rather than feared it should be
welcomed.
Are we welcoming change? Do we see it as opportunity or
threat?
I rather believe that too many people see change as threat.
Thus the political divide we are currently experiencing!
But I would much rather we all see change as opportunity to
be more, live better, and create a more sustainable life of quality and value.
We have done this over and over throughout our history as a nation. And as a
global community, too. We just don’t pay much attention to the latter! Perhaps
we should pay more attention and enjoy the ride.
Meanwhile we have much to do at home. Fact checking is just
one small act. Educating our people fully is huge. Best we get down to work on
that don’t you think?
July 26, 2016
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