Free College for Everybody !

In a recent speech President Barak Obama proposed an initiative whereby students could attend community college for free. At the present time the state of Tennessee and the city of Chicago have such programs in place.  A number of years ago, the State of New Jersey had implemented the NJ Stars Program where high school graduates who had a specific GPA, could attend community college for free. With all of the supportive statistical information pointing to the fact that college graduates earn more in their lifetime and sensing the need for a more educated work force, the President is trying to eliminate one of the greatest barriers to a college education- the cost. Financial statistics have indicated that student college debt is at crisis levels and such debt is not dischargeable in the event of personal bankruptcy.

The notion of a free college education got an unexpected boost today. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent) has announced his candidacy for President of the United States as a Democrat, thus launching a challenge to Hillary Clinton. One of the planks in Sanders’ platform is for tuition free college education at all state colleges and universities. The naysayers are already out there stating that a college education is not for everyone and that we need students with technical and vocational skills as well as college graduates. While this may be true, both the President and Senator Sanders realize that the opportunity for a four year baccalaureate degree should be attainable to anyone who wants one and not be limited to those with financial resources or athletic prowess. No one is talking about how all of this is going to be paid for and that will be a discussion for another day. Although the US Constitution does not specifically mention anything about education, both Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, both agreed that the success of the United States of America depends on a educated population. This was true 200 years ago and is every bit as true today.

c. 2015 J. Margolis

The Color of Teaching Revisited

Professor June Gordon wrote a book in 2000 entitled “ The Color of Teaching.” In it she explored through interviews and surveys reasons why college students of color were not choosing teaching as a career path. Some of the interviewees stated that they did not have positive experiences in school and that teaching turned them off as a profession. Others stated that if they were going to go through the effort to obtain an undergraduate college degree they wanted a better payoff at the end than that of being a classroom teacher.

Fast-forward to 2015 and an editorial by Motoko Rich that appeared in the New York Times dated Sunday April 12,2015. Rich notes, “ Across the country, government estimates show that minority students have become a majority in public schools. Yet the portion of teachers who are racial minorities has not kept up: More than 80% of teachers are white.”  This raises several questions. Have the parents of white students given up on public schools and moved their children to private schools or to home schooling? Or have the same issues that plagued Dr. Gordon’s thesis fifteen years ago still exist?

Many minority students still want to see teachers in front of the classroom that look like them.  It is that affiliation and kinship connection that helps create a more positive learning environment for some.

Additionally neither the book nor the editorial addresses the more recent issue of the war against teachers. Union busting tactics and the breaking of pension promises have dissuaded many potentially good teachers of all races from pursuing a career in public education. Furthermore, the linking of teacher performance with student success on standardized tests has become a game-changer for many. This has become part of the Common Core program, where recently we have seen a growing number of parents opting out of the “required” tests on behalf of their children. Editorialist Rich observed that many school curricula are  “out of sync” with the culture of the students sitting in the classroom.

This issue is not likely to be resolved soon. But those of us in the education profession need to ensure that the best candidates of ALL races make it to the classroom.

c.2015 J. Margolis

Five Stages of Wisdom for Educators

Sam Geist is a good friend of mine. He was a successful entrepreneur in Toronto, Canada and has become a world-renowned motivational speaker and author of several books about management and motivation. Sam publishes a weekly email newsletter called “Quick Bites,” which offers quotes and strategies for motivating employees. Last week’s edition had a piece about the Five Stages of Wisdom. I believe that the content is relevant for educators as well as business people. Below is Sam’s story for your review.

           

Five Stages of Wisdom

The first stage is to listen. On our journey to wisdom we need to still the ideas spinning around in our heads so we can really hear what others are saying to us.

The second stage is to be quiet. We can't listen to what's happening around us if we are making a lot of noise. But being quiet also refers to being attentive to the wisdom that comes from within.

The third stage is to remember. There's no point being quiet and listening if we allow the information we receive, the lessons we learn to slip away. We need to recall what we've learned, reflect on them and internalize them.

The fourth stage is to act. The purpose for undertaking the first three stages is to use that knowledge, that wisdom to do the work we have to do.

Finally the fifth stage is to teach. Once we've acted on what we've learned it is our responsibility to pass it along, to teach it to our people, our associates, and our teammates. And this way the learning starts all over again

  

LESSON LEARNED:

"We have both the responsibility and obligation to learn -  

And to pass it on."

Reprinted with permission- Sam Geist c.2015

American Exceptionalism

If all of the borders between nations were eliminated and people were able to move freely and choose where they wanted to live, where would they go? If worldwide college students could choose any college to attend where would they come? If there is a trouble spot anywhere in the world, where does the world look for guidance? If you answered the United States, you would be correct on all three counts. That is an extremely heavy burden to place on one country- a country that does not have the largest population (That’s China)- a country that does not possess the greatest land area (Russia).  We could go on and discuss Nobel Laureates and such but the point of this discussion is this- Since the United States is the “ exceptional” nation in the world of nations, how does the country strive to educate its children to fulfill this obligation for future generations?

First we need to de-politicize the education process. Education is an economic issue, as we need an educated population to propel the economy. Education is a security issue, as we need a population capable of defending itself and its fellow citizens. Third – education is a social issue. All Americans need to have the opportunity to acquire as much knowledge as they desire, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or financial position. The goals of education should not be legislated by Congress based on some arbitrary calculation. It should not be the political football of presidential candidates (Who isn’t or doesn’t want to be the Education President?)

All Americans whether in the education profession or not, needs to be engaged in the public education process. After all, the future of the nation is at stake.

C.2015 J.Margolis