LOST IN THE POLITICAL SHUFFLE

Considering all the significant issues confronting our government or personal lives, it is no wonder that some vital subjects get lost in the shuffle. Recently we re-subscribed to TIME MAGAZINE, and while I frequently take exception to their political vent, TIME frequently contains interesting and informative articles.

Your Commander wants to draw your attention to Time’s April 27, 2009 issue and two very important articles on the long neglected subject of EDUCATION. Walter Isaacson’s report titled “How to Raise the Standard in America’s Schools” is an excellent assessment of Education in America today. Additionally, you will find an informative Q & A interview titled “The Apostle of Reform” with our new Education Secretary Arne Duncan to be refreshing, thoughtful, and insightful.

If you’re not a subscriber you can see both articles simply by going to www.Time.com on your computer, and enter the article titles in the Search File.

As a staunch Conservative Constitutionalist I want to see limited involvement by our Federal Government in the field of Education, because it is brilliantly placed in the province of State governance by our Constitution. I do, however, feel that both Duncan and Isaacson’s call for realistic, achievable, improved standards of accountability are something that only our Federal Government can properly establish. Historically we have learned that each state’s provincial influences repeatedly fail to meet the necessary objective and competitive global educational requirements.

Duncan’s call for longer school days, extending the school year, teacher accountability, parental involvement, review of tenure, vouchers, and charter schools all are drawn from his successful leadership of the Chicago Public School system. Based upon Duncan’s success in handling the militant Chicago Teachers Union he may be just the right person to bring dramatic improvements across the country.

Nationwide our inner-city schools are generally appalling when it comes to discipline, achievement, and drop-out rates. Unless we promptly find solutions to America’s educational needs we will continue to develop generations of citizens who will be nothing but an unmanageable burden to the public welfare rolls. Throwing money at education garners political votes, but has not shown to improve academic results over the last few decades.

I strongly urge you to read both of these defining articles. It is very easy for all of us to ignore the subject of education, but it is one of the most important subjects impacting the future viability of our quality of life, survivability, and greatness.

COMMANDER GRANGER