Home
>
Political
>
The Politics of American Public Education and Why Dramatic Progress Still Eludes Us

The Politics of American Public Education and Why Dramatic Progress Still Eludes Us

The current political efforts aimed at improving the American public educational system appear to reflect Einstein's definition of insanity ? doing the same thing over and over again hoping for different results ? than truly creating sustainable change. Until, we begin at square one, sustainable educational achievement will not happen and the limited resources of time, people and taxpayer's dollars will continue to be depleted.

A closer examination of the facts that are rarely discussed needs to be reviewed.

FACT #1 ? No one looks good in a bad system.

We live in a 24/7 global economy and continue an agrian school structure. We recognize that many school buildings built 40 years ago are not conducive to be energy efficient and technology friendly. However, we continue to embrace a school structure that is both inefficient and ineffective.

Many teachers know that their students begin to shutdown after spring break because they are looking forward to summer vacation. Parents will take their children out of school during the school year to accommodate the parents' vacation schedules. To build long-term cognitive memory which is the foundation for measurable performance requires multiple exposures such as rote memorization or spaced repetition to a learning event. With today's students having more to learn, every minute needs to be leveraged to optimize performance. The current system makes everyone look bad.

FACT #2 ? The initial desire for learning is innate, but needs ongoing development.

Young children are always asking why. Their innate curiosity to explore their world fuels their desire for ongoing learning. A review of national test scores shows a general increase in cognitive gains from K-3, but then a decline happens from 4th through 6th with an upward swing in 7th and 8th.

Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues recognized that learning affects three domains ? the cognitive, the psychomotor and the affective. Yet most adults, especially teachers, have very little training in developing the affective learning domain and some of their actions either intentionally or unintentionally actually diminish the desire to learn. We need to build both cognitive growth and attitudinal desire. The standard question of "Can they learn?" should always be partnered with a second question: "Do they want to learn?"

FACT #3 ? What is, is.

Today's neighborhoods are not yesterday's homogenous, farming communities. The one-room school house was successful for 4 factors:

1. Schools were homogenous

2. Communities reinforced shared values

3. Many learning objectives such as fractions, geometry, physics were continually applied within the day to day farming activities

4. With multiple grades per classroom, older students faced continual repetition of earlier learned facts

The never ending blame game needs to stop! Negativity energy consumes time when time is at an absolute premium! Our schools are filled with diverse populations of students, parents and teachers. Many parents, like those from the Depression, are working two jobs and may lack a strong formal education as well. Teachers are overwhelmed with the additional curriculum mandates. Administrators juggle new regulations and community expectations with limited resources. Focusing the blame on one group or one law such as No Child Left Behind drains the energy away and keeps the real problems from being addressed. We need to accept" What is, is" and move forward.

FACT #4 ? Processes exist for one reason only to secure the desired results.

With the emphasis on processes, a presumption exists that the results will follow. Yet, the results for educational achievement are not where they should be given the amount of resources being spent. For example, recent research indicates that the U.S. is still graduating the same percentage of college students that graduated in the early 1950's. Processes need to be reviewed and all waste removed. Removing the waste would add instruction time to the daily schedule and possibly enhance the attitudes of all involved.

FACT #5 ? Alignment of strategies, systems and people must be focused on creating loyal internal customers who will drive loyal external customers.

This alignment works to discover the "Moments of Truth" necessary for sustainable change. Today's schools are big business even if they have only 1500 students. By embracing a continuous improvement plan, such as Baldrige where everyone is in agreement both in words and actions, creates a high quality culture where "excellence is not an act, but a habit" (Aristotle).

FACT #6 ? Learning and performance are two, distinct and separate behaviors.

Many of us have heard the following: "I can't believe you did that! I taught you better than that!" What is really being said is that I can't accept your sub-standard performance because I taught you to perform at a standard to above standard level. This paradigm that learning equates performance is probably the most damaging to educational reform initiatives. Learning must be viewed as one behavior that is the acquisition of knowledge. Performance is a separate behavior that is the application of knowledge. Individuals need numerous opportunities to apply knowledge because we all learn differently.

FACT #7 ? Money will not solve the current problem and neither will more money.

Between 1992 and 2003, K-12 public education spending increased 92%, but eighth grade reading scores only increased 1%. Ignoring this fact is much like the childhood story of the "Emperor's New Clothes."

The American public educational system has delivered outstanding contributors to our society. Before we can raise the bar of performance, we need to face, acknowledge and design truly sustainable solutions to overcome the real obstacles facing our system. And, our politicians need to understand that more money is not the answer especially when the money is directed to the same solution only packaged in a new box.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. President of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, is the Process Specialist. With over 25 years of business and education experience, she builds peace and abundance by connecting the 3P's of Passion, Purpose and Performance through process improvement. She is one of the first national certified facilitators for America's Rising Stars and includes this tool to create positive ROI driven results for youth in grades 6th-14th, parents, teachers and schools both private and public. Leanne believes we need to stop setting our young people up for failure. As co-author of M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential:Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement (June 2005 release), she speaks nationally to a variety of audiences. Contact Leanne at 219.759.5601 or leanne@processspecialist.com if you are seeking amazing results.

Permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with a live link, and the article is not changed in any way (grammatical corrections accepted).

limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Creating an email alias can help clean up your inbox by organizing emails based on purpose, like creating different aliases for shopping, newsletters and work.

A multipurpose robotic system promises to transform how items are stacked onto pallets, aiming to maximize space utilization and reduce shipping costs.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The number of people affected by a UnitedHealth data breach in February 2024 was actually higher than previously reported and was the largest medical data breach in U.S. history.

A phishing campaign uses Google Calendar to schedule fake meeting invitations that appear legitimate, redirecting targets to phishing sites.

Toll road text scam: Fake messages claim unpaid fees, seek payment via fraudulent links. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says these steps ensure that your friends and family get to the exact moment you want them to see. Try it out and streamline your sharing experience.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers tips on how to protect your identity: Be vigilant, monitor accounts, use smart security, know theft response.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says cybercriminals are exploiting iMessage phishing protection, tricking users to reactivate links.

It's hard to imagine life without in-flight Wi-Fi these days – but sky-high web surfing comes with its own set of privacy concerns. Here's how to protect yourself.

Over 400,000 cases of credit card fraud were reported in 2024 to the Federal Trade Commission. The CyberGuy explains how to protect against becoming another victim.

A nondescript metal box transforms into a fully functional electric motorcycle that blurs the line between vehicle and urban infrastructure.

Many apps unrelated to location still ask users for tracking permission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to end this alleged practice by Allstate.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Melody, the artificial intelligence-powered robot, is life-sized and represents a move toward creating robots that resemble people in appearance and interaction.

Here are five easy smartphone rules from the National Security Agency that you can follow to better protect your mobile device from hackers and scammers.

A U.S. robotics company has developed "Jennie," a robotic pet powered by artificial intelligence that's designed to comfort those facing mental health challenges.

Healthcare records for more than 184 million Americans were breached in 2024, but you can take steps to minimize that risk. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

The Skyrider X1 from Rictor claims to be the "first amphibious flying passenger motorcycle," and it combines land and air travel in one sleek design.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Home inventory and restoration apps help itemize and track every item in your home in the event you have to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster.

The White House launched a new cybersecurity safety label, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, intended to help consumers make informed decisions on smart device safety.

Today's tech can help make life so much easier — if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips on the quickest and best ways to make your phone, laptop and other devices work for you.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers Windows 11 restart fixes: Update drivers, run system scans and check hardware.

Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.

The Politics of American Public Education and Why Dramatic Progress Still Eludes Us

Political