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Governor.
Steinman for
Governor:
Part
010, More on Education:
By
William E. Steinman:
Last
time I discussed the cycle of failure in the home and its impact on our
children. I also talked about schools of choice and a bit about financing. I
must point out, at least in
To
clear that up I will propose and experimental k-12 school based on the campus
of
The
student body of this k-12 school would by selected from a pool of applicants.
There would be no racial or sexual criteria in this process. What would count
most would be the degree of commitment of the parents. The parents would make
the applications for the child. Only those students whose parents made
long-term commitments to participate would be eligible. There would be no cost
for the school to the student or the parents of the student. The state would
bear the entire cost. However, considerable parental participation would not be
requested, it would be demanded.
The
school I envision would implement the educational plan that I spelled out in my
book, “William in the
Currently
we do not teach communication at all. We teach a thing called English, which is
really a course in grammar. It is usually taught in a way that makes kids hate
it. Consequently, they do not learn it well at all. I would teach communication
as a participative activity between the students themselves with teacher guides
offering advice and support, but not criticism. In other words, I would make it
like a game for the kids. It would be fun.
In
our current curriculum driven education, we are trying to force all kids into
an engineering curriculum mold whether they fit there or not. We insist that
the kids learn math and science while we shortchange the creative arts and
philosophies. Think about what might have happened to Van Gogh or Locke if that
had been done to them.
I
believe each child born has a particular genius that is unique to him or her.
Our task, our sacred duty is to nurture that genius. We cannot do that by
forcing the unique child into a one-fits-all mold. We can only do it by
recognizing that children are individuals and treating them as unique and
special. I believe the only thing different about the few kids we call child
geniuses is they have received a lot of nurturing and encouragement in one way
or another.
What we should be doing is encouraging our kids to fulfill the potential for excellence that is in them. The choice is quite simple. Do we want all kids to be special or not? Do we want them to stand out? Do we want them to do better than we did? Do we want to be proud of them? Do we want them to be superior humans? Do we want curriculum driven education that beats the kids down or interest driven education that draws them out?
One of the big mistakes we adults make in our own path is in choosing our goals before we know our path or interests. Then we get into a program of curriculum driven education and begin to focus. In this context, focus means shutting out the world and dumbing down. For our kids it’s even worse. They do not get to choose anything. With a fixed curriculum in K-12, the kid’s path is chosen for him before he even shows up in school. Without even seeing the children we decide before they even get to school what they are going to learn.
It is ridiculous on the face of it. This gives no credence whatsoever to the kid’s interest or aptitude. I am suggesting that is completely backward. I am suggesting we go completely the other way to an interest driven system. If we look at them carefully, we will discover that interest and aptitude are the same in the person who has not been messed with.
I believe all kids are capable of learning. We run upon a problem when we try to teach kids things they have no aptitude for and cannot learn. Then we label them as slow or something worse. Instead, we should let them learn the things they can learn and we will discover we have very few slow learners. As the kids learn things of interest, with their enthusiasm in explaining them they will interest each other. Then learning becomes a choice rather than an assignment.
I cannot say too many times that our kids are our future. Kids can do anything. We must give them the chance. With the proper support and guidance, a kid will find his own way and become a superior person. I saw kids on the 2003 Capitol Fourth of July Celebration doing a clog dance just as well as the adults. That is a very difficult disciplined dance, but they were happy doing it.
This sort of thing has been documented too many times to be called a fluke. We can say those kids are special and not all kids are like that. I will agree they are special. I must violently disagree that other kids are not. What makes these kids special is the special support and guidance they have had. All kids are special when they get that.
I have made the point that everyone is responsible for child
welfare. Some people who have no children may claim exemption, but that is
wrong. To make that claim would require a denial of interest in the future of
mankind. What happens to kids affects our future and thus affects all of us.
Often those claiming exemption are older people who have no interest in
anything much. They are just diddling away time while they wait to die. If that
is your true position, I urge you to hurry up and die. Please just get out of
our way. You had your time. If you cannot participate, at least stay out of the
way.
Back to Steinman for Governor.