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1. Public Education Can Save Our Country
Publiceducationisbroken.Iwantedtograbyour attentionwithsomethingmuchmore impactful.But
the way I see it,whathas more impactthan the absolute andsimple truth?Ourpubliceducationsystem
isbroken and ithas beenfora long time.
Some of us believeitisthe responsibilityof ourelectedofficials.Othersthinkourcommunitiescanfix it.
Parental involvementisthe answerformany."If onlywe hadmore funding"isanothercry.They are all
right.
Of course,the debate continuesaboutNoChildLeftBehind(NCLB).Remember,thisisthe measure
whichwaspassedinJanuary 2002 duringthe BushAdministration.Itrequiresstatestestall studentsin
certainsubjectseveryyeartobe sure theyare preparedforcollege.Idon'tbelieve the problemis
entirelyaboutNCLB;it'saboutpubliceducationingeneral.However,thisinitiative hashadsuchan
impact,mentioningone practicallybegsamentionof the other.
NCLB wassupposedtofill inthe gapsof publiceducation.Itwaslikelyintendedtodojustas it
says...leavenochildbehind.The goal isadmirable,butthe executionhasadetrimentaleffectonhow
childrenare taught.We triedto solve the problemwithone sweepingmeasure.There isnoone answer
and no one entitywiththe completesolution.
The reasonI see the problemof publiceducationinthe UnitedStatesasa national issue,andnotan
individual,family,group,regional,orevenstate issue,isverysimple.Letme use myself asanexample.I
am not an educatoror a student.Ido not have a childinthe publicschool system, orany school system.
But I am a citizenof thiscountryand have a vestedinterestinitspresentwell-beingandhope forits
future.So,itis myproblem.Itisour problem.
We all knowthe future of thiscountryand our place inthe worlddependsonourchildren.How they
fare and compete onthe world'sstage dependsontheiraccessto qualityeducation.ThatiswhyI am so
afraid.

2. We are not preparingourchildrentocompete.We are not teachingthemtothink.We are not teaching
themto react. We are not teachingthemtocreate.We are not teachingthemat all.We are preparing
themfor tests.We are fillingthemwithfacts,havingthemregurgitatethematthe appropriate time,in
the appropriate formatto attainthe appropriate score.
Creativity,individuality,andinventivenessare practicallydiscouraged.If achildshowstoomuch
individualityinthe wayshe learns,acts,or interacts,she isconsideredinappropriate.She isrelegatedto
a special class,isolated,orevenworse,medicated.
We live inanage of entrepreneursandinnovators.The time haspassedwhenwe stayona jobat a
factoryfor 25-30 yearsor evenina corporate cubicle forthat long.We are not trainingourchildrento
be innovative inthe workplace,ortobuildbusinesseslike the type builtbythe entrepreneursand
solopreneursthatare the backbone of my ownindustry,virtual businessassistance.
The PublicEducationNetwork's(PEN) National Surveyof PublicOpinionlists10keyfindingsinitsSurvey
of PublicOpinionaboutourresponsibilityforoureducational system.Topamongthose were:
1. Educationcontinuestobe a topnational priority,eveninthe midstof warandconcern aboutthe
economy,joblessness,andhealthcare.
2. Americanswantfundingforpubliceducationprotectedfrombudgetcuts,andtheywantto see more
publicinvestmentineducation.
3. The juryis still outonNo ChildLeftBehind.[1]
What doesthistell usaboutwhat we needtodo to fix ourbrokensystem?
We have to stopmakingeducationamere campaignpromise andmake ita policypriorityforour
electedofficials.Anyofficial whodoesnotfulfill hispromisestoimprove publiceducation,especially our
national officials,shouldnotbe re-elected.
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3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/4420585-Antony-Gordon