Learn- John and Sharron are some close family friends of my parents, and they are teachers. He teaches Spanish and French in Modesto and she teaches at an elementary school in Atwater. They are all too familiar with the cuts that have been made, as John has had to move from school to school to find a stable position, and every year they face even more cutbacks. Sharron works with hadicap children and finds that the resources even available to them are being cut. The speech therapy programs are lacking and the extra help for the autistic children is dwindiling. It is sad that we have come to cut off the education of future generations to cover the financial mistakes of the currently empowered ones.
Act- I have witnessed the lack-luster ways of the current education system. When I was in was in high school and went through my mundane life, I just chose to ignore the possibilities around me. After my K-otic side was born, not only did I seized the opportunites to participate, but I also helped create those opportunities for others. Teachers are so under-appreciated and overwhelmed that I feel there is a lack of enthusiasm for what they could incorporate into their classes. I think that a resurgence of inspiration and creativity, along with some enthusiastic encouragement could go a long way for today's youth. As a community member and a parent myself, I am trying to get involved and help the teachers out so that my children can benefit from what they should be getting. If more parents would take a proactive role in their children's enducation, I think that we could have a hige positive impact on not only our children's educational opportunites, but the future of education as well. If people don't fight for something it will never get fixed, but if we stand up and voice our oppinions, we can effect change for the future.
Imagine- With unlimited resources, I could cause a lot of K-oas! When children are presented with opportunities to play and participate and have fun, they usually will. I think that there should be more options available when it comes to educational environments and possibilities. Schools that use alternative teaching methods, that focus on smaller class sizes, that are more focused in a certain area as the students get older, they explain the future potential and options to students and their families are a few things that I would implement. An example of this would be the Steiner Waldorf methods, that are available through some charter schools. I would also raise the incentives and compensation for teachers to be more proactively involved in the curriculum. It's not about teaching the minimum and stopping there, it is about connecting the material to the loves of those learning it. I would use my enthusiasm and creativity to inspire and drive the minds of the teachers, families, and students, and I would use my determination to help push through legislation that brings to light the need for all the extracurricular activites and the arts. The educational success of a student is not soley based on the effort of that student, but the effort of the families behind them and the teachers and programs infront of them.
