A synopsis of A Call to Action for Public Schools

In Time magazine, the September edition, there is an article entitled, A Call to Action for Public Schools, written by Amanda Ripler. In the article we read about many of the issues facing the current educational system in America. Along with the issues, the article discusses the new documentary film, “Waiting for Superman’ directed by Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim. The film which is set to be released on September 24^th of this year, takes us on a journey with 5 families who are seeking better education through charter schools. The object of the article and film is to bring to our attention the problems and possible solutions of the American educational system. President Obama and the Secretary of Education, Anne Duncan has introduced 4.5 billion dollars in stimulus money to state legislatures for education. This has not come though without a challenge from Teachers Unions. With the No Child Left Behind Act and now the Race To The Top Act, teachers are under stricter evaluation than ever. Recently the L.A. Times newspaper released a searchable database of 6,000 teachers ranking their effectiveness on how they are educating their students. Teachers who do not show good statistics in their students testing are now in danger of losing their jobs. Traditionally school teachers were secure in their jobs after an average of 3 years in the field, without receiving any effective evaluations or training to improve. Teachers unions have often had a history of working against children in the name of job security for the teachers. This is one of the reasons “Awaiting Your Superman’s” director Guggenheim made the film. He said, “We need change. The unions can’t protect bad teachers. They have to start helping the good teachers”.

Bill Gates who is a great supporter of better education is an advocate for the documentary. The film endeavors to raise awareness to the problems in our educational system. One young high school dropout was very moved by the film and was reminded of her own past problems in the educational system. While the documentary shows many of Americas staggering educational statistics compared to other countries it also offers many solutions to our current problems. According to the article there is hope in our current situation because the documentary offers credible solutions which could not be done in the past.

Recently there has been a rise in parents pursuing alternate education known as Charter schools. The article presents statistics that show these schools might not be the answer. Yet, many parents are casting lots into the Charter lottery system. They are hoping they might gain a spot in a Charter school. While Parents “weep” in anticipation, their children stand with ‘fingers crossed in hopes of a brighter future.”

In conclusion, the article and documentary film both tackle the facts of our problems in the educational system. “Waiting for Superman” challenges the “injustice of the system in teachers unions. The article shows both sides of the spectrum by interviewing leaders of teachers unions so that the good teachers might not be lumped in with the bad. Also it reveals the concern of union leaders to provide better education. One thing the article makes certain is the struggles and aspirations of America and its citizens who are striving to improve the future of our education.

Essay on Waging War

Recently I read a portion of The Art of War, a book by well known author and military genius, Sun Tzu. In the chapter entitled Waging War there is much to be gleaned from his knowledge of war. There are several similarities in his concepts that we can compare and apply to our present educational and business systems, and also how we wage war.

Sun Tzu describes the great financial cost of war so it is that our country is spending a tremendous amount of money on education. We continue to toss money at our educational problems and our economy is suffering. Meanwhile, the cost of education increases and taxes go up because we are in a deficit. Rather than first looking to money as the solution we should raise the standard by motivating teachers and their students with the incentive of the reward of achieving better education. The real enemy is complacency which we can overcome by exhorting others to rise above the status quo. Tsu described this when he said, “Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have their rewards.”

In regards to business we would do well to heed the wisdom of Sun. The current administration in America continues to pour money into the country that is not there and our resources have begun to run dry. We bail out businesses that are guilty of fraud and we reward them by giving them more money for their own errors. According to Mr. Tsu this is not a good example of what real leadership should be. As he said, “We have lost our substance and have become exhausted.” I say it is no wonder that he described chieftains who would rise to take advantage of our extremities. As he also said in other words, we are in danger of not being able to avert the consequences of our actions.

When reading the words of Sun Tzu we understand that war is not a subject that is easily tackled nor is it for the faint of heart. This topic is one that Sun is not a novice but a master. When comparing all of his wise instruction on waging war and accomplishing quick victory it is of no surprise that America is greatly lacking. Our victories have neither been swift nor have our campaigns been short lived. If our country would lay Sun’s aphorisms to heart we might gather the resolve to know when to take decisive action without haste while not delaying the right time to strike. Yet we can also learn that prolonged warfare never benefits the good of any country.

In conclusion, I must say that if our eyes are only half opened to the facts of what is really going on we might wake up to the truth that Sun’s words are much more than mere tenets. Are his words crying out against us? Suddenly, I am reminded and inspired by the lyrics to an old song by Simon and Garfunkel, “And the sign said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls.” (Sound of Silence) Sun Tzu’s words of wisdom require so much more than lip service but they demand action! Only now the question remains, have we been listening to the signs?

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