Searching For Retribution

It has been said that a wise man knows the value of knowledge in an undereducated society. Today with so much discord in our society amid the influx of one tragedy after another leaves little doubt this nation will continue to suffer the consequences of the inefficiencies and deficiencies from the past 50 years in the ways we have educated our children.

The many crises we face can be resolved and it is through education that can make it happen. But when we continue to sponsor, promote and execute a set design in curriculums in education too many times developing crisis always seem to find a way to reappear. By omitting many of the basic rudimentary aspects of progression in education based on child development lies the biggest problem in education we face today. 

In 1955 the United States was at the pinnacle of economic sucess. Contributing factors were many. It can be arguably said that our educational system from elementary through collegiate years for those entering college was the best in the world from the 1950 thru the 1960′s. Supporting the quality of education was our robust economy. We had a very strong middle class making the US educational system the best in the world.

Since the early 1970′s a cultural shift invoked Supreme Court rulings that encouraged a relaxing of educational standards. It was those standards that enabled the United States to be so successful in maintaining such a healthy economy 15 years earlier. We must also face the fact that even before the mid 1980′s middle income jobs started disappearing along with middle class wages.

By the late 1990′s due to our trade agreements and failed domestic and foreign policies further reduced middle class jobs and incomes that were essential for ensuring that quality of educational venues could be available. With the loss of incomes, many times the family unit also declined to a point where a nurturing of their children thru parental guidance further handicaps educational quality. Dietary deficiencies and many other factors have all contributed to the decline of our youth being capable of receiving quality education. 

With the great amount of incomes being reduced we also have to bear in mind that the tax base for which many school districts declines as well. When the tax base is depleted many of the most important aspects of quality education aside from curriculum development suffers as well. Today, many school buildings have suffered years of neglect putting students and teachers in jeopardy. The great reduction in extracurricular activities and the rising costs to participate in have all contributed to the decline of quality and availability of education of our youth.

The greatest failure of the United States lies in the inadequacies of elected officials. They have failed to recognize the deep divides in our nation and how the economy greatly affects the quality of education. A strong vibrant economy with a 70% middle class greatly improves the quality of education. And when the middle class is reduced along with reducing wages or stagnate wages as we are witnessing today education continues to fail along with our whole economy.

Now, the question is how to resolve and restore our economy and, in the process, greatly improve the quality of education? National Economic Reform’s Ten Articles of Unification is that plan of action and direction for this nation to eliminate the great travesties that have reduced America’s effectiveness to resolve the many crises we face now and in the future.