I learned a couple of things after I published "Part I" of this column last week.
First, is that the defense mechanism of denial is pervasive.
And second: Finland - more on the Nordic country in a bit.
Psychologists tell us that when we are faced with a daunting crisis, whether collective or personal, it is a very human reaction to deny that the emergency exists. Even our government officials are in denial of the education deficit we face. According to them, “We are doing just fine.”
Everyone just keep chanting over-and-over: my child is getting the best education in the world and he/she is the brightest and smartest. Eventually, this becomes true, regardless of reality.
Finland! Yes, Finland.
Last week I mentioned some of the countries that were leaving the U.S. behind when it comes to our kids test scores and graduation rates. For example, the U.S. ranks 15th in reading, 19th in math and 14th in science. In Texas, it gets much worse.
Yet it is Finland that stands out for me.
They have turned their education system into a learning juggernaut – notice I said learning, not test scores. Finnish children flex their cerebral muscles, so to speak, in the classroom and they are outperforming their global school contemporaries in just about every subject and grade level.
So what are we doing wrong? Why are U.S. students falling further behind?
One word: innovation.
Those in charge of education have failed to innovate and this failure has unfortunately trickled down to our students. Education today is about test scores. Memorizing facts to pass a test, is not learning.
What is the solution? While I can spend the next few months writing about how we may fix this crisis on a national level, I want to bring this closer to home and offer some steps that you as a parent can take now to take charge of your child’s education. Unfortunately, we will have to deal with the education hand that has been dealt to our students.
By now it is a cliché: that as a parent, you must get actively and directly involved in your child’s education. Most business leaders and professionals I have spoken to, agree with me that learning and education begins in the home. Consider this your wake up call.
Your child’s teacher is your partner in their education. They are not solely responsible for it. Meet with your teacher partner regularly, get to know them, ask questions and most importantly get ideas from them as to what you can do to support their efforts in the classroom. See them as part of the solution, not the problem.
Have a learning night at home – at least once a week. Turn off all devices – yes that means you, too. Review what they are learning in school and ask them questions. Get to the “why” of what is being taught in the classroom. Instill in them once again, their natural sense of curiosity of why things work.
Talk to other parents. Are they involved in their kids learning? Do they have any insights or information of what is going on in the classroom? If they are close friends, form study groups with their children – make it fun, interesting and challenging.
Find out who are the education leaders and officials in your district or community. Start a dialogue with them and find out what you can do to help them do their job better. They are supposed to be our public servants – it’s time for them to serve – hold them accountable.
Consider these other creative ideas: cut back on band, football and the chess club, their education is more important; do some limited home schooling – give them a book to read or math problem to solve every week; find them a good and trusted tutor in the subject that gives them trouble; join online education forums to get updates and ideas on educating your child.
Yes, education in America looks bleak. Yet you have control and say in your home. You can still have a direct impact and influence over your child’s future. You have to become your child’s “education evangelist.” Give them your vision, hopes and expectations about their educational future and show them what promise they will possess as they become young adults.
Eli is a columnist for TownSquareBuzz.com, a marketer and published author. You may have seen him on the tele or heard him on the radio. Feel free to contact Eli directly via TSB or drop him a note at TheEliHernandez@gmail.com.
UPDATE to my column:
I came across this article on NBCNews.com: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/employers-may-be-aggravating-skills-gap-1C7450821
I take issue with this statement, among others: "But millions of small- and medium-sized employers, the businesses that create the bulk of new jobs, are apparently unwilling or unable to spend the money to bring new hires up to speed."
Small businesses or any enterprise for that matter should not have to spend more money to make up for the clear failures of a defective education system. Yes, there is a learning curve with any new job, however, the workplace is not an institution of higher learning - businesses should not take the place of colleges and universities.
I once hired a candidate from a very prestigious university in DFW - I'm sure you can figure out which one I am referring to. I was amazed about what this hire did not know, rather than being overwhelmed on what they were taught in university.
This is another example of a flawed education system graduating a future workforce which is clearly not prepared or on par with what employers require in its employees.
Stop blaming enterprise for the failures of an education system that is clearly failing all our students.
What do you think? Do you know a business owner or professional? If so, please pass this on to them. I would like to hear what they have to say.
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Comments
I have three children who have all gone through the McKinney public school system. On the whole, I've been pleased with our schools. Our students have amazing resources, more than I ever dreamed of when I was a child. The work they do in high school is in some cases beyond what I did in college. However, there are some areas that I believe could be improved. First of all, no one teaches our children to write any more. I don't mean constructing a paragraph - I mean handwriting, the actual, physical task of writing. I tease my teenage son that his writing looks like he did it with his toes! I tried to get him some help with this back in early elementary school, but was told, "It's not on the TAKS." And if wasn't on the TAKS, no one in MISD was going to spend any time on it.
Second, no one has ever emphasized spelling, grammar and punctuation to my children. They all are (or were) in the gifted and talented program, but still committed basic errors in these areas. The teachers told me they were more worried about them getting the concepts. Well, that's great, but you can be brilliant and well-educated and still appear stupid if you can't spell, use correct grammar, or punctuate properly. What really gets me is when the schools send communications home with misspellings and typographical errors. If the adults who work at our schools can't master this basic skill, what hope is there for our children?
Finally, I see WAY too many parents doing their children's work for them. As a single working mother, I didn't have time to do my kids' homework, so they developed the independence and self-motivation to do their own work. However, each time there was a project due, my kids would bring in their little diorama-in-a-shoebox, and other children would come in with projects that were obviously done by an adult. I always wished the teachers would call the parents on this, and send the project home to be re-done by the student. To my knowledge, this never happened.
As a young man with no children, I cannot give a parent's opinion. However, I CAN give that of a student. When I was younger, I was convinced that my parents were "out to get me" in the educational sense. As I got older, it became clear that my parents were not calling me out on being lazy with my work or taking the easy way out, they were going after my teachers for letting it happen. Children as a whole learn by doing. They imitate actions, repeat words, and act as their "role model" of choice. When you have teachers that are showing children it is ok to take the easy way out and to "do what you can (but nothing more)", it sets the path for that child, sometimes for their lifetime.
Eli makes many great points in his opinionated posts. He puts it all in front of you and tells you what he thinks (and what he knows), which some people cannot handle. I want to commend you on speaking up for the parents out there that grow tired of watching children have their education handed to them. Education is not something to take lightly, it paves the way for the future of America. I want to thank some of your generation for pointing this out, and I pray mine doesn't take it for granted.
Does Texascommentator comment like this on all opinion articles or is he picking on Mr. Hernandez for a specific reason? What a waste of words! I would like to see him share his opinions about the US School System. If we, as a community, do not address the issue of education, who will? Texas education ranks low. Too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing. Just think what our teachers could do if they could actually educate our kids and expand their thinking to much higher levels than what is on the TAKS or STARR. Texascommentator, send your opinions directly to Mr. Hernandez's email. We who enjoy reading TSB could do without your rantings. Lighten up!
Thank you MaryannKuhn for your kind words.
I think Texascommentator is one of my groupies and he/she is stalking me :)
Also, thank you for your observations on our education system - you are correct, too much emphasis is on testing and not enough on actual learning.
Keep sending us your comments.
Cheers!
I think the problem America is in (and I believe it IS real) is everyone's fault. Teacher, non-teacher, parent, non-parent. Since my generation (X-er), we've been laying all the fault at the teachers, the administrators, and the system in general. Yes, it's flawed. But WE made it that way. WE dug the ditch and pulled the dirt down on top of ourselves. The only way we can climb out is to stop arguing and start working together in the ditch. Like Eli said, support the teachers and administrators. Find out what your child is supposed to be learning and help him or her ACTUALLY LEARN IT. If the teachers have "drunk the Koolaid" (to paraphrase anywherebutthere), that shouldn't stop you from helping your child outside of school (not that that was the implication in the statement I quoted). If you don't have kids - volunteer. There are tons of kids in McKinney alone who need a helping hand and many who can't afford tutors. You don't need to have a degree, just an hour a week or an hour a month. If you aren't able to volunteer for whatever reason, get out and VOTE. There are strong arguments on both sides about voting for a President and whether or not that vote means anything. But it is CLEAR that when voting for city officials, local offices, and school boards, YOUR VOTE MATTERS.
Lastly, Eli mentioned being creative. How's this? Every time you pay for a night to the movies, or out to dinner, or a day at the ballpark, or your cable bill for that matter, put an equal amount of money aside for your child's education, or to help another child's education.
(I apologize if I sound too preachy. This is simply a subject that I'm passionate about. Thank you for understanding.)
I too think that "Every time you pay for a night to the movies, or out to dinner, or a day at the ballpark, or your cable bill for that matter, put an equal amount of money aside for your child's education, or to help another child's education." is a great idea!
HI Jessa995, Thank you for your comments.
I love your idea of putting funds aside for a child's education. There are children in Texas that are really in need and with all the cuts to education in the Texas legislature coming, the number of children needing help will only increase.
Thanks for your constructive comments, and keep them coming. Cheers!
I've read your comments with interest. This past Monday evening I attended a meeting in Terrell, TX, hosted by the Friends of Texas Public Schools. There were approximately 1,000 attendees from across north Texas. Attendees included teachers, administrators, parents, Board members, politicians.... What an uplifting meeting. While public education in Texas isn't perfect, thank heavens there are those of us dedicated to providing every child with the best education possible. Visit http://www.fotps.org and pay particular attention to the Reports section. Education, public or private will always be a challenge. Let's focus on the successes and build upon them. If we constantly tell someone that they're unsuccessful, stupid, lazy, a poor manager - then that is what we get. Let's talk about our successes and focus on improving the LESS successful areas.
Thank you Staciedinbr!
There certainly are bright spots in education here and there. Unfortunately, not enough of them to offset the larger negative trends.
Educators and school administrators are trying their best, and working with what has been handed to them. The business leaders and professionals also need to step up and take a more active role in education - after all, it is their future employees that we are educating now.
On a national level, we need a complete reset of our educational priorities - one in which we place students and their learning first and foremost.
Wow! I just love it when someone offers an opinion, backed up with research and they get jumped on and get asked for credentials. You don't need credentials to offer options and give common sense approaches to better our children's education. I am 60 years old. I was a teacher.I am a writer and I have a strong opinion on our education system. I applaud Mr. Hernandez for his concern and insight. We need more help and options to better our system. Sitting on our hands doesn't help. Bien Hecho!
Thank you Toniandrukaitis for your kind words!
As a former educator, we certainly need your help and input on what works and doesn't work in today's education system. I am trying to get the business community to get involved and play a more active role in the future of our children.
We need to fix this crisis quickly and as a business professional once told me, "It's going to take a village to get this right."
How condescending. Not Eli, but Texascommentator. Whether Eli has a degree or not, what he has to say has some value. I think part of the problem is that our MISD educators/administrators and all of their degrees have contributed to the mess we are in now. I welcome opinions other than our education folks. I get tired of hearing how things are great. They aren't.
Unfortunately, trying to work with some of the schools in this district (not all I hope) and the teachers doesn't work. Some of the teachers have drank the Koolaid.
I'm not sure what the answer is either, but we can no longer be in denial that there is in fact a problem!
Anywherebuthere, you are absolutely correct.
I have mentioned before that I believe most teachers and school administrators are doing the best they can with what they have.
I am still hopeful that as the greatest country on Earth, surely we can do a better job at educating our kids. If we don't find the answer soon, and as our kids grow into young adults, they are going to have a more difficult time competing against the best and brightest around the globe.
I still believe America should lead the world - especially in education!
I have been reading your postings with great interest. In this day and age of so much media hip and assorted experts in various fields, I am curious, exactly what are your credentials? Example: What College did you attend, and what is your degree in? Your picture indicates a very young man who surprisingly has much worldly advice. You look to be in your early thirties but you render a worldly maturity level of one who has lived for quite a while....does that mean you are in your late forties or early fifities to have such great maturity? I also observed that you were a published author, it that self-published or did a publishing company actually publish your work? Would you be so kind to refer me to your published work by title and number and date, so that I can consider purchasing said book at local book store? A pre-Thank you for addressing my questions in order to establish your quoted expert observations about life in general.
Thank you Texascommentator for your interest.
I am not the issue here, nor am I on trial.
I feel no need to offer my resume to state my opinion - and trust me, I'm quite opinionated, my friends would tell you. I have a prolific body of work which spans continents, thus giving me a global perspective on a wide range of issues.
I hope to share these with the TSB community in the near future. And I hope to hear from you, especially if you disagree with my insights.
And for the record, I am much older than I look. Wisdom, however, is not only granted to the old - I have met quite a few older individuals who possess none.
Eli was introduced officially to the TSB community on Square Off several weeks ago. Just an FYI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvyBZ3lN3rs&feature=share&list=UUEa9nW3YwoClfdtckR_xpvA