CHRIST in a PONCHO

Adolfo Perez Esquivel, 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner
for Christ in a Poncho said this: “Capitalism and communism
are both imperialisms that provide only half answers. They
make the human being an object … We want something
besides capitalism or communism, something on the order
to self-management and sharing.”

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

WILL PUBLIC EDUCATION EVOLVE NOW to SUPPORT the KIDS ?

This former Professional Recruiter (and Personnel Consultant) discovered very quickly how poorly job seekers are prepared for the job market and citizenry! So many are of us are programmed by our parents and corporate America (or worse still, slip through the cracks of well-intentioned, over-worked teachers and guidance counselors in elementary and junior schools ... where it really starts !

In the mid-1970's, I created and operated an independent study through a Junior High school to see if the nine-nine students in it could be more motivated in their school studies. I organized them to learn the Inquiry Method (in order to ask good questions of works doing jobs they would love to learn more about in their local communities. At the same time, I organized a group of about twenty parents to car pool those students into those chosen work environments.

The results were astounding!

1) In a follow up survey, the students pretty much chose what their parents, relatives or family friends did for work ... in spite of the great reviews
they gave the field trips they had chosen? Why?

2) Parents who drove the kids were consistent, eager to drive the kids and
had to be asked to just listen, and NOT participate during the "question asking period?" Why?

My Conclusions:

Most parents carpooling their kids were experiencing their Mid-Forty Crisis', and had learned enough about job markets and company politics in their work experiences to want start over if possible! They were eager to learn something new with their children.

How many had learned the hard way that 1) they were either not suited to the jobs they had, 2)they were poorly paid because they didn't know how to interview their educators and employers well about the job markets, and/or 3) weren't motivated to find out by themselves before hand because they dropped out early?!

Like the Army, most young people are indoctrinated with the Prussian Education Model before they learn to think. The Army teaches kids to learn self-discipline, but not now how to think, nor do low income families teach their children how to think because they are struggling just put food on the table.

Teachers who don't have time to start where their students' hearts and imaginations are at because they are over-whelmed with "teaching requirements" or they lose their jobs. If many educational studies prove that tests are not a defining prognosis for student success. Then, what is?

Even ROTC students upon college graduation continue the indoctrination of the Pentagon to fight our wars in the name of Peace! Any adult twenty five years and older are not wearing rose colored glasses (if managed to escape the military or escaped a teaching certification program upon college graduation)

John Gotto, retired teacher of thirty years and voted National Teacher of the Year (five years running) has a lot to say about this Prussian School model in his book, "Dumbing Us Down". Every parent should read it, and then run for their local School Board.

Activism is the new frontier educating the public through alternative media because traditional media has been purchased by Corporate America. If you do a search on alternative media, boy, WILL YOU BE SURPRISED! If you want a comprehensive list, just write me at this blog.

And of course, our new Education Leader, Arnie Duncan should read it. I hope every parent, educator and business leader encourages him to read it too. And perhaps this blog too?

Onward and Upward, People. Because its our kids who are defining our future now !

Linda Burkhead
www.peopleshareservices.blogspot.com






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