12/12/2017
Take time to view and process the message. Listed below my post
As I viewed it thoughts of my Daddy kept running through my head. He was uniquely himself a child of poverty, a lifetime learner..... a school dropout,a lifetime learner...... a determined individual who at 19 on his own made the decision to return to school,after 7 years of absence and made up that time in three years, graduating with honors. A man who always kept moving forward, he hitchhiked to college, then later left college the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor......a lifetime learner. Rose to the rank of Air Corp Captain (Navigator) and returned home a decorated war hero.....a lifetime learner.He finished up that college degree,become an educator at Tom,Okla....a lifetime learner.In less than three years and three long hard summers earned a Master's of Education from OU...... a lifetime learner. I have hundreds of other memories of his countless life lessons , to name a few the value of an education,the worth of a school and the importance of viewing teaching as a calling not just a job , that every student deserved a quality education....... he became a revered teacher , a top administrator ....... a lifetime learner. Yes I know he made mistakes, he was not perfect but he called a spade a spade,never sought confrontation but refused to walk away for it. Often making this statement " A person that would vote against their school district has to accept they also voted against their community." As I listened to this post, I first thought I am glad he isn't here to witness the state of education in America today, especially in his home state of Oklahoma. He would lay it out to his family ...his kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and his former students whom many followed his steps into the school business; what he saw, what he thought and how it had to change. We would have not agreed with his every word,but we would be warmed by his passion. This is what my voice heard. Find the facts, follow the money and how it is generated and spent, it will soon spill forth both the problems and possibly solutions. Always vote, casting an informed vote on each issue . Do not value personal gain or political advantage over what is best for America's schools. Remember children do not chose their place of birth, economic status or the political powers that dictate their odds of success. My Daddy was the real deal,and he would never supported the undermining of one America's greatest gifts to its future a free, public education. I do not think he would spend much time arguing the pros and cons of private or charter schools. I feel he would say "If you want different build your own, but do not expect government assistance or exclusions .
In my heart my Daddy was born a simple barefoot boy,.....he became a lifetime learner. He left this world in a pair of twenty year old Florsheim Dress shoes that he wiped clean every night.,Often reminding me this would be the last pair he would need. Because he had taken excellent care of them........ a well taught lesson by a true educator, devoted to being a lifelong learner. Since he loved homework and sometimes tormented us to stay on top of ours in his honor I have created Fin's Final Assignment.
Go to this link http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/An-American-rimperative-Public-education- Read this article and if you choose search out additional resources., take notes ,discuss and debate with others. Then formulate your opinion.
Write an essay or brief statement defining what you believe public education should look like today in the United States or any other thoughts you have on the state of Education in Okla. This is to collect honest fact based opinions and not to create ill will. Someone may have an idea never considered? I will have a page entitled Fin's Final Assignment. Feel free to respond, the goal is to allow us to consider the views of others. Keep it respectful this is not a debate but an attempt at beneficial, respectful, dialogue I will close it down after the first of the year.
foramerica'schildren. You can click on the post of the man speaking to hear his thought provoking ideas. Found on this page,I do not know how to link it directly.
