Notes

Solution to the Education Crisis
read more than 1.2 million students will not graduate from high school this year (2007) according to a recently available report by Editorial Projects in Education. Editorial Projects in Education is a creditable non-profit organization that conducts extensive research to help raise the degree of awareness about important issues in American education.

We've an educational crisis in the United States. Why aren't an incredible number of parents outraged and going for a stand? Why aren't our leaders, including the President and Congress, causeing this to be issue a significant priority?

This report by Editorial Projects in Education also provides startling statistics. Many major cities have schools in which less than half of the students graduate. One major city had schools in which almost 75% of the students didn't graduate. This is deplorable and tragic.

Quite a few schools are failing to adequately educate our children at a time when a good education hasn't been more important. Exactly what will the work prospects and standard of living be for students who do not even complete senior high school? How will employers in the U.S. remain competitive in the global marketplace if this trend continues? They are questions that need to be addressed.

Problems provide opportunities for solutions

In every crisis there are opportunities to produce a positive difference. Every problem has a solution. Exactly what is a possible solution to the educational crisis? There are various schools and teachers performing a congrats educating our students. We have to examine the schools, courses, and teachers which are producing successful results and create types of what is working.

For example, eighty percent of the economically disadvantaged students who graduate from KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools head to college. These kids from the poorest neighborhoods, who on the average are two grades behind when they start at KIPP, are outscoring students from excellent public schools on national standardized tests.

Many community colleges offer courses in study skills and effective learning strategies. These courses teach students how to learn, identify their best learning styles and skills, set goals and manage their time. These courses tend to be available to students within early college start programs.

I came out of retirement a year ago to teach success and study skill strategy courses part-time for a community college. One of the courses I teach is for at-risk students who enter college with two or more deficiencies. Students who take this program graduate at significantly higher rates than those who find themselves not enrolled.

Why will be the Kipp schools and many college success strategy courses working? The solution is motivated students who work hard, dedicated teachers and courses that assist students identify skills, talents, goals and how they learn best. Students are motivated to understand when they are focused on realistic goals and see the relevance of their education to these goals.

An education should bring out the best inside our students, develop their potential and natural gifts and help them to become positive contributors to society. We need to create educational systems which model schools, courses and teachers which have proven track records of helping students to achieve success. This is one treatment for the education crisis and ways to provide our teenagers with the education they deserve.

Copyright 2007. Raymond Gerson.

Raymond Gerson includes a masters in psychology and over forty years experience teaching career and personal development. Career coach, job placement specialist, and former executive recruiter, he also teaches college success strategy courses. He is the author of five books, including Create the Life YOU NEED. Two of his ebooks, How to Create the Job YOU NEED and Effective Job Search Strategies can be found as freebies at: [http://www.successforcollegestudents.com] along with numerous success strategy and study skills articles.
Website: https://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/33583900/