Education seems to be getting a bad rap in some circles and to a certain extent, it is well deserved.
Our public schools only offer one curriculum, only one type of degree.
But what if you can't do well in school the way it works today? What are you supposed to do? The only option many of our kids see is to drop out and that leads to lots more problems with unemployment, gangs, drugs - wasted lives and wasted potentials.
We've lost track of our real purpose: to provide the skills and understandings needed for our children to become productive and satisfied members of our society, living 'the good life' with their family and friends.
In addition to offering only one degree we don't provide an understanding of a Purpose in Life to guide our kids in making good decisions in their life.
All of our programs are designed to help the kids achieve some passing grade level of achievement to entitle them to that one degree.
Never mind that our DNA proves that every one of us is completely unique.
Never mind that in some areas 50% of the kids drop out and never get that degree and 60% end up with a criminal record that further reduces their chances to achieve that good life.
Let's start with Step 1; becoming fluent in basic reading.
Fluency comes from repetition.
Great coaches have their players practice the same plays over and over week after week in preparation for the first game and then they keep practicing week after week for the whole season to stay sharp.
Reading simple sentences is the first 'play' you have to learn to get along well in our society.
Reading the same simple words in different types of simple sentences over and over, day after day, week after week until that level of reading requires no thinking at all leads to fluency.
Then you can move to the next level of simple words and sentences and then on to other subjects.
A clear sign of fluency is to pronounce every word exactly as it should be pronounced and read every sentence just the way it should be read.
We should have degrees at each level of attainment.
This isn't about taking a test and getting a passing grade.
The ability to read is WAY too important to accept anything less than absolute fluency! This is step one in our goal of 'No Child Left Behind'.
What those degrees will show is that this person has achieved a level of fluency at this level but more importantly it will show that they will stick with it to do their absolute best.
They clearly are able to perform most jobs and our government and employers should change their standards for hiring to recognize the level of education they have achieved and what that means about the types of jobs they can perform and the performance they can expect.
How can we as a society think that a teacher is not good because a kid can only learn up to a certain level? How can we think that a kid can't learn a subject when they haven't yet become fluent in reading? How can we insist that all kids must be able to do this exact curriculum that we keep cramming more and more into or it is the fault of our teachers and school administrators? That is the amazing level of thinking in the standards we are now giving our schools and teachers.
Amazingly bad! Kids that appear unable to handle school now will be able to do much more when they are first fluent in reading.
Kids who are taught and coached and rewarded for their successes with degrees will be much more likely to stay in school.
Businesses will be happier to have more good employees to choose from and to help support our public education system.
Teachers will be much happier when parents understand the basics and they aren't being criticized no matter how dedicated they are.
Parents will be happier when their kids are given the respect they deserve for doing their best and when they stay in school and get the understandings they need to live a good life.
Politicians will be happier when changes they make in our educational standards and systems produce better results.
This is simple and it is a win-win.
Jerry W.
Willis
Our public schools only offer one curriculum, only one type of degree.
But what if you can't do well in school the way it works today? What are you supposed to do? The only option many of our kids see is to drop out and that leads to lots more problems with unemployment, gangs, drugs - wasted lives and wasted potentials.
We've lost track of our real purpose: to provide the skills and understandings needed for our children to become productive and satisfied members of our society, living 'the good life' with their family and friends.
In addition to offering only one degree we don't provide an understanding of a Purpose in Life to guide our kids in making good decisions in their life.
All of our programs are designed to help the kids achieve some passing grade level of achievement to entitle them to that one degree.
Never mind that our DNA proves that every one of us is completely unique.
Never mind that in some areas 50% of the kids drop out and never get that degree and 60% end up with a criminal record that further reduces their chances to achieve that good life.
Let's start with Step 1; becoming fluent in basic reading.
Fluency comes from repetition.
Great coaches have their players practice the same plays over and over week after week in preparation for the first game and then they keep practicing week after week for the whole season to stay sharp.
Reading simple sentences is the first 'play' you have to learn to get along well in our society.
Reading the same simple words in different types of simple sentences over and over, day after day, week after week until that level of reading requires no thinking at all leads to fluency.
Then you can move to the next level of simple words and sentences and then on to other subjects.
A clear sign of fluency is to pronounce every word exactly as it should be pronounced and read every sentence just the way it should be read.
We should have degrees at each level of attainment.
This isn't about taking a test and getting a passing grade.
The ability to read is WAY too important to accept anything less than absolute fluency! This is step one in our goal of 'No Child Left Behind'.
What those degrees will show is that this person has achieved a level of fluency at this level but more importantly it will show that they will stick with it to do their absolute best.
They clearly are able to perform most jobs and our government and employers should change their standards for hiring to recognize the level of education they have achieved and what that means about the types of jobs they can perform and the performance they can expect.
How can we as a society think that a teacher is not good because a kid can only learn up to a certain level? How can we think that a kid can't learn a subject when they haven't yet become fluent in reading? How can we insist that all kids must be able to do this exact curriculum that we keep cramming more and more into or it is the fault of our teachers and school administrators? That is the amazing level of thinking in the standards we are now giving our schools and teachers.
Amazingly bad! Kids that appear unable to handle school now will be able to do much more when they are first fluent in reading.
Kids who are taught and coached and rewarded for their successes with degrees will be much more likely to stay in school.
Businesses will be happier to have more good employees to choose from and to help support our public education system.
Teachers will be much happier when parents understand the basics and they aren't being criticized no matter how dedicated they are.
Parents will be happier when their kids are given the respect they deserve for doing their best and when they stay in school and get the understandings they need to live a good life.
Politicians will be happier when changes they make in our educational standards and systems produce better results.
This is simple and it is a win-win.
Jerry W.
Willis
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