The
theme in this book is that as a nation, “we need to study harder, save
more, spend less, invest wisely, and get back to the formula that made
us successful as a country in every previous historical turn”.
Chapter
six focuses solely on this country’s educational challenges. “Talent is
the new oil and just like oil, demand far outstrips supply,” (The
Economist’s intelligence unit; Heidrick & Struggles). As a nation,
we have not yet adapted to this new reality. “We don’t think of
education as an investment in national growth and national security
because throughout our history it has been a localized, decentralized
issue, not a national one.” (Friedman & Mandelbaum, 2011)
“Today, education is not an option-it is a necessity for a middle-class standard of living.” (Schleicher, 2011) More education is simply not enough; it needs to be a better education
that is focused on critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Friedman & Mandelbaum define better education “as an education that
nurtures young people to be creative creators and creative servers.”
Creativity is key!
These authors maintain, that “Achievement in school matters, and it matters for a lifetime.”
It is also critical to staff our schools with exceptional teachers. The
quality of an educational system cannot exceed the quality of the
teachers. Delivering high-quality instruction to every child is a
necessity in improving educational outcomes. “Nothing is more important
than the quality of the teachers and principals” in schools. (Johnston,
2010)
Great
teachers are the solution to insuring growth for every child in our
schools. If we want to help teachers be more effective, this requires
support from many sources. The role of communities, politicians,
business, neighbors, parents, and students themselves is critical in
achieving results.
American young people have got to understand from an early age that the
world pays off on results, not on effort. At precisely the moment when
we need higher quality education to close the gap, “our students are
spending more time texting and gaming and less time than ever studying
and doing homework.” We all have to work harder, focus on the
fundamentals, and get everyone to pitch in. Members of our nation all need
to feel that he or she has a real stake in improving education.
Pointing the finger at others will not provide real improvement in
American public education.
It is
indeed the teacher’s job to teach, but it is the parent’s job to support
education in positive ways. This is done by getting your child to
school on time, fed, and ready to learn. It is also accomplished by
providing a safe place to do homework in the evenings and on weekends.
Supporting your child’s teachers will reap huge benefits for your
child’s educational progress. Great things can happen when we join
forces for a common goal!
-Dr. Paula Sissel,
Superintendent/Elementary Principal