I will start off by saying I am not one to follow politics. I rarely get involved into discussions about how our President is doing, or which congressman is sleeping with his assistant rather than his wife. I actually get frustrated when people get completely caught up in rooting for one party just because that's what their parents did. Am I naive in thinking that I just want us to all get along? Yes, probably. However, with the constant struggle of democrats fighting republicans on what is right and what is wrong, invading other countries for YEARS to try and help them fight a battle, we have lost sight of the struggles happening on our own soil. Our education system, not just the science aspect, but the entire system is crap when compared to the strides being taken in other countries. I'm honestly not sure what this country needs to recharge their batteries when it comes to educating our youth, but it needs to start with people learning how to compromise and support one another instead of nit-picking at every little move someone makes.
We have a topic, an event you could say, that connects us all. At some point in our lives, even if it hasn't happened yet, it will, we will be touched by the terrible disease we know as cancer. This, I feel, has already sparked interests of children all over America. I, myself, lost my mom 7 1/2 years ago to breast cancer. She battled for 4 1/2 years, trying chemo after chemo, radiation after radiation. Do I share this with my students? ABSOLUTELY. I have a connection with my students that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world, they are my children, I view them in this way because I love them dearly. Likewise, they often view me as a mother figure, some have even called me Mamma Gizzi (before I was married), and I loved it. My students connect with my story, and I can see in their faces that they know what it feels like to go through this. Most of my students usually raise their hand and tell me how cancer has affected them. I think cancer is our Sputnik. Since it affects nearly all of us, we have reasons to charge our batteries and advance our knowledge in science.
As for what other countries are doing? They are focusing on EDUCATION. They are not bothering with the problems of other countries. They keep their focus on how they as a country can further their youth so that they are competitive in the upcoming years. What are we doing? We do a lot of talking, but at each other, not with each other. The first step on the road to success is compromise. We must learn to use our sense of hearing and stop telling other what they are doing wrong. Instead, we should focus on what they are doing right and go from there. Constructive criticism goes along way. We need to realize that our battery in the American Education System has died, and it needs a jump start. We all know the energy the youth of our country has, why not let them recharge our battery?
You make many valid points. I wonder if political leader will ever be able to compromise for fear that it implies they admit something they are doing is wrong. For all of the type-A personalities in Washington (and our education system) there does not seem to be anything to show for all of their aggressive persuit of their image. It really is too bad that everybody else is suffering for their ability to do nothing.
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