Gas prices,
unemployment, 9-11, and racial disputes among our own people make me wonder; are
we in the middle of a modern day Sputnik and don’t even know it? Are we the group of people declaring, “It’s
all somebody else’s fault. Give me a
handout.”(Friedman, 2010). I think
maybe we are. I don’t see that we are
willing to sit down with those who hold different opinion or beliefs and
compromise to work thing out. I don’t
see where we are willing to work hard to pull ourselves out of the economic
situations we are in.
Thomas L.
Friedman’s article “What’s Our Sputnik?” should be sent to all Americans. We need to once again become an informed
nation. I watch kids all day long
looking for someone to tell them what to do, how to do it, and what to think. Students as well as the American public need
to become self-motivated thinkers and start to ask lots of questions of those
in charge.
I think we
should say shame on us (the American People) for making it more profitable to
stay home on the couch all day instead of getting a job and going to work. I recently ask a economically challenged
parent why they could not find a job when I knew they were qualified for
several I was aware of. Without
hesitation they informed me they couldn’t make ends meet with a job. If they are on welfare they can support their
family and have some medical assistance.
I just shook my head and ask if they would volunteer in my classroom.
Referring
to the Friedman’s article I know being humanitarians is a good thing but when
is enough, enough? Our own country is in
need and funds are being sent elsewhere.
Legislature can make new laws and rules all day long, regarding
education and our school systems. Until
they find the money to support what they have recorded on paper very little
will change.
In Florida
there was a push for all pre-school educators to hold a higher education
degree. Sounds nice but very few
pre-schools can pay their employees to hold this type of degree. We see the need to raise education but are
doing little to invest the funds necessary for the changes.
I sometimes
feel we are waiting on someone to miraculously swoop down and fix
everything. My fear is by the time
another Sputnik appears we are so economically challenges and educationally withered
we cannot find our way back to a competitive position.
Reference
Friedman, T. L. (2010, January
17). What's our Sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East
Coast)], p. WK.8.
I agree, the U.S. does not even act there is an issue. Something is very wrong when people can stay home and make more money. What is the motivation to fix a problem when a person is better off not having fixed it. What does that say to our students? That is why I think it is so important to teach students how to learn and how to be passionate about it. If they have that knowledge, then they can follow their interests and make a difference in this world.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is it is hard to teach students to work hard, when their parents at home model a different approach. Now I do not believe it is a big majority of citizens in America who would choose welfare over a job, so disregarding the 4.1% of Americans, how do we help the others become highly motivated.
ReplyDeleteI often think blaming a small group of citizens is the wrong way to go about it. We need to be looking at the 95.9% who are finishing school with apathy and low self esteem that they can be something. the STEM approach really helps our students become more motivated citizens who can collaborate and problem solve better than any generation before.
You are right, it is sad that this is not a national crisis. It should be made more aware within the news. What can teachers do to push this topic so that Anderson Cooper, Bill O-Riely, and local media pick up the coverage more often of the "American Dream" being the next Sputnik?