Where are we?

In an op-ed piece from the New YorkTimes by Joel Bakan, he mentions that the kids are not all right. In his piece he writes about the power of corporations and how essentially instead of protecting the youth, they are placed in danger due to corporations. As well written the piece is and true it is, I only can think Yea, you just got the memo?

The kids are not all right, and let’s face it, they haven’t been all right for a while. They’ve been getting by, and mostly due to their own accord and will power. This isn’t to say that all parents are neglectful and terrible. Rather, it is not just the youth who are absorbed in the technological world and the media, it is also the parents. Children learn by doing. 

So what is to be done? Join a commune? Take away the internet? Force your kids only to read books? No, no, and maybe. Well, reading is my own personally opinion, but in any case eliminating technology and the media from youth is absurd. This generation and future generations are connected in ways that were only dreamed of in science fiction novels. It can be powerful and destructive. The person or people who can effectively use it to speak to the world will be the winners, and those who can’t will only follow. Breaking the connection is not the answer, but rather putting information and truth out on the networks. When you bring something to someone’s living room, the will listen.

In regards to corporations, those will be around for a while. Maybe you are anti-corporations, maybe you just don’t care, but in the United States and the world, they are here and they are ready to play. Mr. Bakan makes a wonderful statement when he says, “The good news is that we can — and should — work as citizens, through democratic channels and institutions, to bring about change.” How do we do that though? Get the message out. Don’t be radical about it, if anything that turns people off. Be steady in your actions and words. Make alternatives actually accessible. Organic food isn’t cheap, and hey, I’m living on a government stipend, I go for what is cheap. Yes, farmer’s markets now take food stamps, but who knows that? I’ll tell you when I saw friends get their food stamps they weren’t told of this, just that you can’t buy alcohol.

Yes, a change needs to happen, but it needs to be coming from all ages and groups, and truthfully the internet will be the thing connecting us all. Be it a mass text to attend a rally or a video on YouTube. If we want to change the world and opinions we need to connect with people from all classes and generations, and really, the net may be the only way that happens.

The Future of NCLB and the Blue Print for Reform?

Sam Dillon wrote an interesting article in the NY Times "Education Secretary May Agree to Waivers on ‘No Child’ Law Requirements." 


Under NCLB it said that in 2014 100% of public schools in the US would have students at proficiency in reading and math. However, as stated in the article:"In March, Mr. Duncan predicted that the law would classify 80,000 of the nation’s 100,000 public schools as failing this fall unless it was amended."

To help with this, Arne Duncan has said that if Congress does not act by this coming Fall to pass education legislation he will provide waivers to states who have not met the requirements of NCLB. This has caused much controversy of over stepping boundaries and the role of the legislative branch.

Yes, it points to that, but it points to so much more. 80,000 schools? 80,000 schools in this country are not at proficiency in reading and math in this country? We as a country are failing 80,000 schools and those children who attend them. Our Congress is failing 80,000 schools by not passing new legislation that provides a more structured, flexible, and innovative education system.

Lets get this out there. Blue Print for Reform is not the be all of great education legislation out there. It has its faults and issues that need to be looked at. This is true, but it attempts to help with some of the issues NCLB created or further progressed, especially the issue of the "passing" or "failing" school.

It is just a sad state that this country is in when states decide to cut back on education and the federal government spends money on wars. Or the fact that federal dollars go to other countries when we can not guarantee a child a place in their own state, be them immigrated, minority, middle class, or refugee. Of the fact that not just with education, but that we have to even consider a budget when we look at disaster relief. There are certain things the government of the United States of America should be able to provide for its citizens, no matter their perceived identity.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Think about it Congress sometimes. I feel like you have forgotten what this country was supposed to stand for. I think we have all forgotten what we are supposed to stand for.

The Role of Catholic Schools in Education

So it has been a while since I last posted and feel like I should get back up on the ball. Blog posting keeps me up to date with the world in reality and forces me to reflect on it. So here it goes.

A few days ago (probably week now) I ran across an article from the NY Times Samuel Freedman called "As Catholic Schools Close in Major Cities, the Need Only Grows." Looking at the closing of one Catholic School in New York, it raises some interesting points about the future of these schools and what role they will play in upcoming year.

I admit, I am a child of the Catholic School system. I attended a Baptist Pre-K where I was taught to read by learning passages from the Bible, and from Kindergarden until my senior year in high school I went to Catholic Schools. Yes, my family is Roman Catholic, but there was a greater reason for me to go there than just a "religious education." The schools were better, especially compared to the option I had. The East Baton Rouge Public Schools, which ranks as some of the lowest in the country. To attend a Catholic School was to attend a school that would put me ahead of the game, and being from rural Louisiana, that means something.

Yes, I received an over arching religious education, but if anything the people graduating from Catholic Schools end up in another religion. The fact is, they attend a private school that is run by religious leaders (who are doing the work for free) and typically it is in a strong community environment. If anything I recognize the benefit I had in receiving such benefits.

But the fact is, the Catholic Schools are losing enrollment and it has to do a lot with the cost of these schools and the funding coming in. I've known a few people on scholarship who went to my high school, but most were either the well off families who could afford it or were like mine, who had to take out a second mortgage on their house to let me go. As the article mentions, the parishes are pulling funding from small pools, and if they don't give, they miss out. Sure, Catholic Schools can apply for federal grants, but many times they do not. Why? They lack the staff to apply for them or simply they feel like they can't because they are a religious school.

How do I know this? I worked as a contracted technology consultant for an elementary to middle school Catholic School in rural Louisiana that was constantly fearing they couldn't show certain videos or do certain things on the technology they received from grants. Thus, the resources they had were out of date or they simply did not look for funding. Of course, this is not always the case, but it was something I noticed.

In any case, I feel like losing the Catholic Schools will be a lose to the US education system. These schools can reach students who make fall on the fringes of society and provide them with valuable education that puts them forward in life, be them in the urban or rural schools. Look at me. I am attending of tier 1 liberal arts college in the US on scholarship and have been introduced to many leaders in Louisiana as well as in the academic world. I could have attending my rural public high school, but I was able to test into a Catholic School that let me travel and develop as a person. It gave me the chance to go places, and shutting the door of these institutions does not only mean the power bill for that spot is ending. It means the door of opportunity for someone's future my also be closing.