The Ugly American

Yesterday I was reading an article on the "Dumb Things Americans Believe" in Newsweek by David A. Graham. It listed the PEW poll which found out that President Obama was perceived by 20 percent of Americans to be a Muslim(remember Rev. Wright?),40 percent still agreed with Sarah Palin's belief that there would be a death panel with the new health care act, half of Americans still believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq(Pres. Bush even admitted that their weren't there), another 20 percent believed the sun revolves around the Earth and nine out of ten US citizens couldn't find Afghanistan on a map. The kicker for me was that 3 of 4 Americans could correctly name the three Stooges but only 2 of 5 could name the three branches of government. Who are the Stooges- look around you!
Why?
We have failed our kids.
Educators have spent so much time getting students ready for the 'test' that we have forgotten to actually educate them in what is important. I know many a good language arts teacher who has diligently taught students what the difference was between a fact and an opinion, or a fact and fiction. Obviously this skill did not sink into most students' brains or these percentages would be different. When you only have to obtain a 50 percent on a standardized test in order to get a passing grade we have failed the kids.
I'm very happy that my surgeon, my dentist and my lawyer were held to a higher standard.If they only knew 50 percent of their work- heaven help us.
We need to hold all American students to a much higher standard than we do. Yes it is idealistic that they will be as conscientious as the doctor, lawyer and dentist but we need to raise the bar when we teach, when we grade and when we pass those students on to the next grade.
I have traveled extensively in Europe and I am always dismayed when I come across the "Ugly American" who doesn't take the time to understand the customs and habits of the people in who's country he is a guest.They are rude and stand out like the proverbial 'sore thumb'. Now after reading Graham's article I know why.
If I ran the schools I would mandate more geography knowledge, more life skills, more world skills and above all real life relevant examples of fact and fiction. I would make them think, research and write on subjects that have to do with being knowledgeable about what is going on around them. I remember as a kid being required to bring into class a current event which was from a newspaper. A newspaper? 'What's that' today's student would ask?
Perhaps we should insist that they have a newspaper 'app' on their fancy phones. Maybe they could be required to text the news event to another student or put it on their Facebook page. As educators we need to try all the tricks we can to get them to learn something other than the 'test'.
Perhaps if we did this then we wouldn't anymore be known as 'the Ugly American' but as 'the Intelligent Savvy American'.

The First Day of School

Now that I'm retired from teaching the first day of school doesn't mean the same to me. It does, however, invoke many pleasant and some not too pleasant memories. It's a day that most students, all parents and even some teachers were waiting for with great excitement and anticipation.
The students have for the past week or so gotten in their last minute parties, finished up their obligatory family vacations, and if Facebook is any indicator have been busy doing their required summer reading. Being the procrastinators that they are they have left the latter task to the last minute, along with buying school supplies and clothing. They are so looking forward to seeing their old friends again and if they are changing schools to scoping out their new environs.
The parents have served their penance of having to look after their children all summer. Some of them have chauffeured them from place to place, from one activity to another and if they are older they have worried about them coming in before or after curfew. It's bittersweet when the kid's go back to school but at about 8:00 am this morning if you stepped outside you could hear a large collective sigh of relief go up into the skies from all the parents in an universal chorus.
The teachers have busily been spending their summer time doing one of several things: attending inservices,taking advanced college courses, traveling, looking after their own kids or working at a summer job. They too are eager to get back in their classrooms, decorate and set them up for their new kiddoes, meet with colleagues and understand the new policies of their schools and school districts. I remember that each school year not only started with a few butterflies in the stomach but with a refreshed attitude when I returned to the school environment that first day.
This year took on a little different twist for me. My only grandson was starting full day Pre-K this year. He is a bright young man with a lot of energy. I had told my daughter to expect a lot of calls from the teacher this year since he did things very fast and did not like a whole bunch of down time. Sometimes bright children don't do well with segments of free time so I was a little worried, especially with my 38 years of teaching and a number of these with bright children. So I was not at all surprised when my daughter called me and said she got a phone call already from the teacher. In my mind all I could think of is that he acted out and was in trouble. No such worry- the call was a positive call assuring my daughter that he had a great morning and did real well with legos and math. That was nice- a positive phone call.
I once had a principal who asked us to make a positive phone call each day. If I ran the schools I would mandate that program. I know how good my daughter felt today on the first day of school when she got that call. I know how this grandpa felt when she told me. Not a bad idea- perhaps we should ALL make one positive call each day, no matter what our job is!