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Looking Back On The Education System

I always loved history. In fact, I began college with a history major hoping to teach middle school history. That all ended when I ran into a couple professors that I just could not crack. My ideology was different from theirs and I could do nothing to please them, so I opted to major in elementary education instead.

In the end, that was a good fit for me. I loved my students and was overjoyed when I saw real learning happening. I considered the textbooks my accessories, often turning to what may have been unorthodox methods of teaching. Whatever I did, I knew it worked. I looked at each student as an individual. I was mindful that all students do not learn the same way. The traditional school setting is not for everyone. Some children have to learn by experience.

I am sorry folks, but a square peg does not fit well in a round hole. That is something that some of the modern education personnel or the powers that be need to keep in mind. It seems that the education system is constantly changing, but I am not sure why. Many of us who retired from education could teach those folks a thing or two.

I am afraid that I would not fit well into the regimented system that is being espoused at this point. I believed in creativity. What I loved about math is that the answer was always the same. You could work back and prove that your answer was right. These days, I hardly recognize the subject that is being taught as math. Children are forced to suffer through cumbersome methods of instruction that simply make the process long and difficult, but add nothing to the scope of actually learning the math processes.

I get so frustrated when I attempt to help young learners. I have no answer when they ask me why they have to do it that way. Remember the basic educational concept that children learn things in different ways. We are stifling that. As long as a student can explain what they are doing and how they arrived at an answer, what difference does it make how they arrived at the answer? The workplace will not care.

Maybe some of the people who run the businesses of today need to take a look at the educational methods that are being espoused. The workforce of the future is being trained. They will have to deal with the people that come out of it.

The educational system in the U.S. gets further and further behind. That will always be so, since we believe in public education for all. I see nothing wrong with that. My big objection is that all students are made to do things the same way. Some students are being held back while others never do get the concept. In the end, however, the brightest and best students will not only survive, they will thrive. You just cannot hold someone back who really wants to learn. You cannot stop people from trying new methods.

Education is no laughing matter. The students of today are being treated unfairly as I see it. There will be a cost to pay and as far as I am concerned that cost is too high, not only economically, but in productivity as well.

I was a presenter at a seminar for young ladies years ago. One gentleman in my group addressed the oral side of communication while I tackled the written side. I not only taught a seminar that day, I learned from my counterpart.

I believe that he was trained in the Dale Carnegie method. He said, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” What a powerful message those 20 letters give.

My life has been lived very much like that. I was never one to be dependent. I assessed a situation then acted on it. I was not a loner. I had an emotional support system that served me well. My faith in God had much to do with all of this. I was trained that no matter what, I was never alone. Even in my darkest hours, the Lord was with me and would help if I allowed him to.

The expression “nothing ventured, nothing gained” comes to mind. If you do not try something, you are sure to fail. If you think you can’t do it, you probably can’t.

I am a positive thinker and always have been. I learned early on that the glass is not half empty. It is half full. What is the difference you ask? Your attitude toward things makes all of the difference. If you are a positive person, you think with positivity. You look for the best in people. You look to do things on your own and not depend on others except as auxiliary partners. You exude confidence. You are willing to stand up for what is right.

These are the things we need to teach our young folks. If they grow up believing they can do something, they will most likely do it. The sky is the limit. There are so many wonderful young people out there today. Instead of recognizing their ability and letting them go, we are holding them back. The future of this great nation of ours depends on this concept.

The Constitution was written more than 200 years ago. There is a reason that it has been around so long. It was put together with creativity and the ability to adapt without pushing the basic portions of the Constitution aside. Folks, we are bending that Constitution to its limits these days. In some cases, little thought is given to what the Constitution means at all. There is a reason that we have a three-part government. No branch’s power is to exceed the rest.

We have a president elected by the people to see that the laws of the nation are carried out to the best of his/her ability. We have Congress members elected to make the laws. We have a court system to see that the laws do not infringe on the Constitution. Our nation is not broken. It just needs to learn to function in the parameters that it was designed to.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.

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