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by Fred C. Wilson III
October 1, 2012
“The Mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
-Malcom X-
The threat of a system-wide teacher strike was days away at the time of this writing. We need ways to fix our ailing public schools. The old methods have failed. A Comprehensive Approach to Education could revitalize our nation’s schools. Educators/parents/city governments must take a holistic approach to learning; a comprehensive approach. Dire necessity demands that we prioritize. Public education in the United States has no moral foundation. Public schools are morally bankrupt. A moral development program should be part of every public school curriculum. Even seemingly small things like the ability to say ‘thank you,’ respecting the rights/goods of other people in class and out, an ecumenical approach to school prayer, and good manners are de rigueur (essential) for people preparing for life’s challenges. Character development and academic skills go together; ignore one, the other suffers. I’ve taught moral development as a separate gradable subject during each of my 30 plus teaching years. I’ve witnesses class after class of students who’ve after a year’s MD training emerge into young people who worked diligently at performing various academic tasks, didn’t steal, welcomed challenge, helpful to children who have had histories of low achievement or were ‘different,’ and rarely, if ever, bullied classmates or kids from other classes. Train the soul the mind and body will follow.
I’ve served under some tough administrators in my career but nary a soul ever balked at the idea of my teaching right behavior. Successful people have positive mental attitudes towards self and other people. They respect all life and treat all people as equals. The principals I worked under relished the idea of having their children trained as caring responsible citizens. Reader, I’m not trying to brag. All credit rightfully belongs to the Most Holy Spirit. Why my peers never caught on to the idea of teaching similar courses, I have no idea. Education is a key to success but not the key.
Public schools serve society. We live in a pluralistic society where church and state are wisely kept separate. Students come to class with varying degrees of spiritual development/ non-development. Singling out any particular religious tradition for instruction would be grossly unfair. This is a valid argument against school prayer. What about those students who are non-believers? All needs must be met. I propose that a moment of silent prayer/reflection at the start of each day before/after the recitation/singing of the Pledge of Alliance/National Anthem would be in good order.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s longer school day policy is a good idea but I don’t think he went far enough. Schools should be open year round. My suggestion: the 45/15 school year. Please go on line to a model 45/15 school year to learn more. But the average school day is boring. Boredom is a factor why there’s so much school violence, drugs, gang activity, and other school related problems. With children rapidly maturing into adults at early ages they should be taught how to survive in a very tough world. Skills in the culinary arts, fine arts, photography, reading for relevancy (primers based on urban situations), creative writing, poetry (What do you think Rap is?), mathematics (not just arithmetic), and home management skills (Income Tax preparation, maintaining a bank account, investing, proper usage of credit cards, bill paying, etc. for upper grades) all are vital to the new breed of American student. Young people are growing up a lot quicker than in previous generations and not just sexually and physically. They’re maturing mentally, emotionally, and have started asking life’s hard questions as early as Kindergarten! Schools/society better keep up! When countries lose their young people societal collapse is imminent.
After Grade 6 students should have acquired basic academic skills. They should be able to READ AT GRADE LEVEL. Most major American newspapers are printed at the 6th grade reading level. 7th and 8th grades are wastes of time, money, and minds. The latter two elementary grades are mere repetitions of earlier grades. Diplomas should be issued after Grade Six as they are in many/most countries. Case in point: In the Philippines and other countries it’s common practice for hospitals to staff medical professionals some of whom appear to be mere teenagers but are as competent as their older counterparts.
A restructured PE (Physical education/Gym) program should serve three key areas: developing teamwork skills, individual physical fitness, and ‘bully proofing’ through discipline. For the latter the various martial art disciplines come to mind. Tossing out basket/soccer balls to incoming students is just isn’t my idea of a structured PE program. Schools are for learning; you can play at home. With childhood/adolescent obesity/diabetes cases soaring fitness programs are a must. And what about bullies the scourge of every school system? Milk sop parents telling their darlings to ‘ignore them and they’ll (bullies) go away’ is bogus (BS). I found that out the hard way when I was a kid. If you ignore bullies they will come at you more aggressively. Children must be made ‘bully proof.’ Solid school based martial arts/boxing programs is an answer to the bully problem. Anti-bullying seminars are great but the old ‘fight fire with fire approach’ has its merits too.
When I was a kid I was always the target of bullies. At the end of my high school sophomore year I ‘wised up.’ Aforementioned in a previous article I joined the then existing Hyde Park YMCA. I spent the summer swimming, beginning jujitsu/judo, and playing baseball. I worked as a delivery boy for ‘Wah Hing Chop Suey’ a local Chinese restaurant. I stayed busy. Within two to three months I developed physically. I acquired a positive self image to the point that when I returned to school in my junior year my bully problem became ancient history. Children must learn self-defense. LIFE IS WAR! The strong survive and the clever thrive. The cosmos is no place for the timid.
Many public school classrooms are overcrowded. One teacher can’t effectively handle 40 or more children in single room. WELL TRAINED teaching assistants should be assigned to individual classrooms. They should be WELL PAID to assist teachers in a variety of ways (paperwork, teacher to student tutoring, grading assignments, etc.) in order to free up classroom instructors for their primary job teaching. One teacher shouldn’t be required to do it all.
How does this article affect Fil-Ams? Filipino Americans and other APA’S are a vital part of the American education process which affect everybody. In part two we’ll discuss classroom discipline techniques, motivation tactics, and other tried and tested methods to save our public schools; GOD bless.
(vamaxwell@yahoo.com)