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Education – We’re Failing Our Children

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There are reams of reading and stacks of studies purporting to assess various problems of the United States’ educational system. Each problem turns out to be rooted in our individual failure to place an extremely high value on a solid education. Our failure contrasts sharply with societal values of China, India or Japan where admission to universities is a high calling and competition for scarce slots is fierce.

This failure to assign a high value to education is all too easily laid at the feet of society rather than each of us. Unfortunately, that approach allows individuals to escape responsibility for doing something to reverse the “… rising tide of mediocrity”, so well documented a whole generation ago by the National Commission on Excellence in Education.1 If we truly cared we would be working, really hard, to reverse that tide.

The numerous findings of the Commission as to content, expectations, time and teaching2 are more compelling today than they were then. Little has been done to: extend the school year or extend daily hours in school. Those remain the same. (note 10 infra) A full core of language, math and science for all students is not required and only a third of students study the solid subjects.3 Teacher pay remains low in comparison to other professional opportunities for college graduates.4 Dropouts are 30% or higher.5 The disproportionate influence of the education lobby continues.6

The consequences of a failed system are severe. Our kids won’t have good jobs. Their quality of life will decline, sharply. Our culture will lose international influence. Commerce does not wait. CEOs can hire better educated workers offshore to sustain value. Why should the rest of us wait at home?

In 2005 the prestigious ACT noted: “… the number of post secondary school graduates will not be sufficient to fill the more than 14 million new jobs that will be added to the labor market by 2008. And, leaving high school without being prepared … will cost our nation over $16 billion each year in remediation, lost productivity, and increased demands on criminal justice and welfare systems.”7

In 1984 thirty seven states had minimum competency tests for high school graduation. By 1995 the number was seventeen. The minimums have tended to become maximums, thus lowering standards for all.8 Today rank and file teachers say with some irony that “No Child Left Behind” is coming to mean “All Children Left Behind.”9

The organized time that children spend learning in school has remained static at 180 days per year and about 6 hours per day for a generation. By contrast, educators in China, with one fortieth the per capita GDP of the United States, have 8 hour school days in its poorest, worst educated province.10 Talk about valuing education!

The Commission also noted that a “… 1981 survey of 45 States revealed shortages of mathematics teachers in 43 States, critical shortages of earth sciences teachers in 33
States, and of physics teachers everywhere. This shortage persists. The percent of college graduates going into the teaching profession has continued to decline.11

One specific thing we can do is vote! Votes can emphasize values. Votes get the attention of those who make policy. Even though federal and state education policies tend to dominate, a critical link in our system of education is the independent nature of local school boards. Where voters in local districts can lead, those politics can also help to elect state and federal officials with values that can help.

In short, we need to build a better value system for education. Ask prospective School Board members; ask state and federal candidates what they will do, specifically, to raise the priority of, and fund, high quality education for our children. Elect and retain those with pro-education answers, and actions. Don’t vote for those whose talk — and actions — fail to show that education is a topmost priority.

As parents, we must tell our children we value education highly — and back those words with deeds. Teachers alone cannot be expected to change the value system of our society. The preeminent value we place on education must be clear in all our social interactions, and in our families. Even through poverty, divorce, and single parenthood, education must be sustained as a most important activity of family life. No electronic toys, or ipods, or play time, until all of the homework is done. No cell phone privileges unless grades are up to snuff. And we all can think of additional ways to drive home the point that hardly anything is more important to our children and their posterity than acquiring a quality education. Learning well is simply essential to their future.12

Citations:

1 A Nation At Risk: National Commission on Excellence in Education; April 1983
2 ibid: Findings; also following Note 10 re teacher shortages
3 Courses Count: ACT 2005 (American College Testing, formerly)
4 USCA: New Teachers and Old Pay Structures; 2002
5 Manhattan Institute: High School Graduation Rates in the U.S.; 2001
6 American Behavioral Scientist: The Political Context of Higher Education; 2000
7 ACT: Courses Count; Preparing Students for Post Secondary Success; 2005
8 Synthesis Report 20; NCEO 1995
9 Desert Sands Unified School District: Author interviews; 2006-2007
10 The Education Sector; Washington D.C. and IUCN Asia Directorate; 2001 (Ghizou; Lowest urban GDP/worst education)
11 Opportunity in Education
12 Author David L. Smith is retired from a dual career in local government and in business. He has owned a company, served as Chairman and CEO of a ten-university consortium doing technology transfers, and as County Administrator for one of California’s largest counties. He is state certified as a guest teacher, grades K-12, for his local school district.

 

How to Make Money Providing Real Estate Agents With Leads

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There are lots of people who are looking for new and innovative ways to make money, apart from doing their rather humdrum or daily jobs that may not be enough to make ends meet, in times such as these. This is one of the main reasons why people are thinking out of the box and taking up new ventures in a quest to boost their income and make the most of exciting new opportunities that come their way. One of the new and interesting ways that can be adopted is that of creating and providing leads to real-estate-agent. This is something that has caught the fancy of any folks as they try and get to this new prospect with gusto and enthusiasm.

There are many people who may wonder as to how to make money by means of helping local real-estate agents. It is true that real-estate agents are always on the lookout for leads to expand their business and sell real estate to. Getting these leads is not always the easiest thing for real estate agents, as they have hundreds of important tasks apart from leads generation, this is where you can pitch in and help the real estate agent in getting suitable leads to help them in achieving their business goals and objectives.

One of the simplest ways to make money by helping real estate agents is to set up a website with relevant information as well as an online form where people can leave their contact details and such relevant info. This info can be sent across to the real estate agents that you have tied up with in return for money. This will help you gain the confidence of real estate agents and at the same time suit your purpose which is to make money effectively.

Another way to send across leads to real estate agents is to get into the practice of making leaflets where you can include the contact details of the real estate agent, taking care that they mention your code to the real estate dealers so that you can get credit for this. This will make it possible for you to make money by means of the commission that comes your way.

To make money by sending leads to real estate agents, you will have to ensure that you are able to strike a rapport and a deal with a trust worthy agent. This is imperative as all such financial and monetary deals are based on sentiments of mutual trust and cooperation which cannot ever be compromised. You would do well to do suitable groundwork to ensure that you get tied up with those agents who are above board and who are ale to keep their word. It is impossible to make money if you have the misfortune of tying up with those who are very unscrupulous and not easy to deal with.

It is quite easy to make money if you are hard working and apply your mind to coming up with innovative and path breaking ideas. It only needs imagination and the willingness to do a good job.

 

Exercise While Pregnant – Fitness Tips and Secrets for Expecting Moms

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While pregnant, fitness should be a consideration for both your health and the health of your baby. By implementing a fitness regimen during your pregnancy you’ll have a jump on getting to your pre-baby weight and helping to make sure that you have an easier labor and delivery.

As your pregnancy progresses, your stomach is obviously going to become larger which can make some exercises not only difficult but sometimes dangerous. Your large abdomen can affect your balance and timing, so exercises that are performed in a sitting position are generally best.

Yoga has some routines that are geared specifically for expectant moms and their growing bellies. While being low impact, they help to stretch and strengthen ligaments and muscles that will be affected during the birth process. Getting these muscles in shape will aid in an easier birth.

Swimming is also a great exercise during pregnancy. In addition to being low impact, it is a very accommodating activity when it comes to your growing belly. If you don’t have your own pool, join a local club or borrow a pool from a friend. It’s a great way to get out and stay active in the later months when many other activities are uncomfortable.

Taking walks are also encouraged during pregnancy. If you have a dog, you and your dog will both enjoy a nice stroll through your neighborhood. This helps with cardio without over doing it and is great for the circulation in your legs when the baby is sitting on major nerves and blood vessels that might make you uncomfortable. Some doctors even encourage walking during the final weeks to encourage the onset of labor if you are over due.

When working out while pregnant, fitness should be your objective. Exercise with the intent of weight loss can be harmful to you and your baby, potentially depriving him or her of needed nutrition. Think of fitness during pregnancy as a maintenance program that will keep you toned and prevent excess weight gain during your pregnancy. Although some weight gain is expected, you should be able to easily get to pre-pregnancy shape if you maintained an exercise program to maintain your level of fitness.

Being fit while pregnant insures that you will have a faster recovery after the baby is born. Most new moms are extremely tired in the first month after birth not only due to the schedule of the new baby, but because they are often physically depleted. If you maintain an exercise program while pregnant, fitness levels after delivery should be fairly close to normal allowing you to enjoy your new family.