Battling for better education

 The following letter from Jet Beckum was published in the Aiken Standard on February 11.

 

"I recently read a book by Richard Neely (a Supreme Court justice of West Virginia) entitled "Tragedies of Our Own Making." In Mr. Neely's book he points out the reasons for the bankruptcy of this nation. However at the time it was written just a few states were in financial trouble, now it is the entire nation. Mr. Neely said the choices we as citizens make determine the financial problems we are currently witnessing.

His conclusion, the colossal medical cost and expensive health insurance along with crime in the streets, failure of the education system, have stressed the financial strength of our nation. The main culprit is the breakup of the American family.

For example the number of one-parent households has greatly increased in the last 30 years. According, to Mr. Neely, although there are advocates for one-parent family in some circumstances such as cruel or violent marriages the fact is divorce is a main cause of poverty in this nation. In general one parent families' children will have more educational problems more problems with crime related activities. Divorces force more financial burdens on society therefore creating more taxpayer funded programs. Government solutions to family problems are substantially more expensive than private family solution because the infamous inefficiency of governmental bureaucracy.

Mr. Neely points out every time we as private citizens failed to care for our children's needs and ask the government to provide them; we not only put our children at risk but we add to the financial downfall of this country.

Most educators when asked for solutions to our dismal graduation rates in our public high schools often respond with "more money" although we spent far more money on education than do many foreign countries and provide less educated children. Many educators also think only the the poor students are failing in our schools. Mr. Neely says no. Many one-parent children come from affluent communities but have all of the problems associated with the poverty of inner-city children.

America is the best in the world educating adults, most foreign countries send their brightest students here for higher education, however, we are one of the world's worst at educating children. Japan for example provides much more proficient students in high school than does the U.S. at less cost. Mr. Neely attributes this to Japan's strong family tradition. The mother in the Japanese family with children stays at home and acts to facilitate their children's education. It is no wonder that America's home schools are providing some of best educated students in the country.

A few days ago I read in the Aiken Standard that the Aiken Board of Education was inviting the public to a discussion on the future of education. A friend and I attended, to my disappointment, the group for discussion was formed in a semi-circle with its back to the public, they seem to be studying ED 101, but I could not hear since their voices were low with their backs facing us. The group was made up of mostly former school educators and insiders. As I walked to my truck to go home, I wondered about South Carolina's graduation rate of 53.7 percent and I wondered how much longer public taxpayers will put up with public education.

Jet Beckum

Aiken"