America's Education System

Education in America

It was recently said, “The real threat to democracy is stupid people.”

The Current System

The system of Education in American rests today in the halls of our Federal Government.  President Jimmy Carter (39th, 1977-1981) did that.  

President James Garfield (20th, 1881) wanted to be able to monitor the progress in education in the States.  He was able to enact legislation to create a department with offices in the Interior Department.  The responsibility for educating our citizens rested with each State.  Governors and State legislatures decided on funding and some even on curriculums.  Under the system there were States whose educated scored better than others.  Best practices could be observed and those lower on the achievement scale could alter their programs to improve. That was the case for over 100 years and then democrats in power, with a penchant for federalizing everything possible, wanting to control things, took decisions for educating children under their wing.  Was it for the right reasons?  Were improvements in education the objective?

The problem I have with the current system is its singular nature.  The Federal Government insists on certain programs, or curriculums to be used, withholding Federal dollars as the means to insure implementation or adoption.  This does not allow for creativity in teaching.  It certainly denies States Rights.  Another problem is the use of ‘equity’ when considering education standards. A goal of the No Child Left Behind Act (2001), focusing on elementary and secondary school policymaking, was to reduce the achievement gap between students. Yet inherent in doing so standardized testing was questioned, underachieving students were promoted to the next grade level, and many more high school graduate students were unqualified to properly read and write, or enter college or even become employed at other then entry level wage jobs with little opportunity for advancement. The emphasis seemed to become self-esteem and not intellectual.  Reducing the gap actually lowered the requirements for the upper levels making them not work as hard, thus reducing output quality as a whole.

Equality

In America my understanding has always been that ‘equality’ is a starting point. Just as on a race track, for a human or a thoroughbred, before the gun is fired everyone is at the same point. But at the end, when the tape is crossed there are winners, laggards and those that finish last. The Democrats want the roses given to the winner to then be shared, with all participants getting equal treatment. First, second, third place does not really matter. And if it did then any claim to victory would be suppressed as not to traumatize those that were not competitive. Training, practice, and increased knowhow would be unnecessary.  We are not doping horses to run faster, we are injecting them with verbal abuse if they lead the race by too much. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

A DEI world. DEI may have resulted from the failure of our Education system  which has allowed unprepared students being promoted, entrance standards reduced, liberal policies adopted and the average and median grade of graduating seniors to decline. With this result hiring lesser qualified candidates for jobs, seemingly at a much greater rate for government jobs, is necessitated. Under Trump (45th), requiring a college degree for a government position was eliminated.  DEI became the acronym for less qualified. Candidates that employers may not otherwise hire are forced into the workforce by edict. It may help with employment statistics, but not productivity. In addition many such hires tend to have liberal, even ‘woke’ ideas, can be difficult to train, lack objectivity, feel entitled, and seek benefits without proving their value. Kamala Harris may be the poster-child. Sorry for the political interjection. 

The liberals have been instructed in our Federally Administered education system to be against capitalism, achievement, family, God, and work. In some ways too it appears they have lost their true identity, manufacturing new ones to satisfy confused minds, immature minds, and conditioned minds.  This thinking came about as a product of indoctrination, not education.  And why learn or work hard when you are taught as a citizen, even as an illegal in America, you are entitled, and Entitlements are readily available. 

The secular liberal orientation in today’s education system in my view is unhealthy. The outcome of which has resulted in an increasing pool of less independent employment candidates, persons that feel deserving and may not be prepared for the tasks they will be entrusted with as employees.  The fulcrum of extreme viewpoints that lean conservative or liberal, right or left, has become unbalanced toward the left.  A symptom of this is the need for leftists to hear and news outlets to provide information tailored in such a way to appeal to their bias and senses. Information, facts, even opinions that are not acceptable, not befitting their narrative, are considered ‘disinformation,’ with cries for censorship. CBS, for example, and their doctoring the Kamala 60 minutes interview.  In reality information satisfactory to educated liberals may in fact be ‘disinformation.’

It was once considered that university men, if they are worthy of the name, are especially qualified by their training to entertain independent opinions. Yet with Education Federalized under President Carter there has been a shift, an imbalance, and the pendulum has swayed and stayed rigidly left. We experience this in the bias of journalists and reporters, certainly on collegiate campuses where woke and liberal ideology tends to dominate. Change is needed. Such imbalance is harmful. Fact checking has been questionable and lacking. The 24 hour news cycle and the need to rush information to be competitive, leaving little time for investigative journalism, the sleuth nature of a reporter, may be a reason for this lack of proper diligence.  But I feel also it is poor training and poor habits along with bias that distorts facts - call it disinformation, or misinformation.

School Choice

Many States are voting this election on a ballot issue calling for a 'yes' or 'no' on school choice.  That is allowing parents to choose schools, other than their public school, even home schooling, using funds otherwise used for public school education for their children. What is at issue here is quality of education.  If the local public school is not up to the standards the parents feel necessary, they can seek alternatives.  This allows for those that may not be able to otherwise afford private schools to do just that, have their children at private and/or parochial schools. This can make public schools more competitive as to not lose funding.  But it seems teachers unions and school districts object and are suggesting a 'no' vote on choice.  It is more about the money and their security than quality of education for our children. They need to accept the challenge, recommend a 'yes' on choice (after all Democrats seem to be all about 'choice'), and prove they can provide the best education for our kids. 

Conclusion

America needs to return Education to the States. The Interior Department can have a small unit focused on outcomes. That was the case for over 100 years before Carter and Democrats took over at the Federal level.  What was wrong that Carter’s Administration decided to bring Education into the Big House? 

In conclusion the direction of Education in America needs attention and modification. At the State level we can experience a variety of approaches, liberal and conservative, and observe outcomes. We will see areas where results are improved and graduates are more employable. We may see the opposite too. Adjustments can be made by States accordingly. A little competition would be good. Who could possibly object to this? America needs to return to educating our youth to be the best and the brightest when compared to other countries, as well as ready to take on the challenges of an continuation of the technological world that is evolving and surrounds us in just about everything we do. 

By Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

October 2024 

Presidential Qualities

 

Presidential Qualities

What do people want in a President? People want more than a good business person, more than a fearless leader, more than a patriotic and intelligent statesman, what they want is a person who embodies all theses qualifications, but in addition one who exemplifies in name, character, ambition, dedication, independence, a record (having one people can relate positively to), love of country, and purpose.  This is the exact opposite of the current Administration. And the exact opposite of the values and history of the remnant from the current Administration vying for this prestigious and important office.  

This Administration (Biden/Harris) has championed (my top 20):

1. open borders, 
2. profligate inflationary spending, 
3. elections open to any wishing to vote (to include non-citizens), 
4. a weak military, questionable foreign policies demonstrating less than a firm hand on world issues and hotbeds of political strife that can explode into war without warning, 
5. a penchant for creating a dependent society, 
6. oppressive regulations, 
7. purchasing oil from foreign sources, when America can be (and was) totally energy independent 
8. financial support for illegals as an inducement for more to arrive, 
9. an orientation favoring millions of illegals over the needs of veterans, victims of disasters, and citizens in general, 
10. actively campaigning for amnesty (citizenship) for millions living here in violation of our laws, 
11. welcoming criminal elements without tracking their movements, 
12. ignorance of America’s homeless problems by using money and drugs as if that can provide a solution (actually making matters worse), 
13. hiring practices that do not employ the best and brightest for essential agencies and departments (DEI), 
14. an emotional, non-scientific, focus on climate control engendering regulations which alter the effectiveness and efficiency of everyday items and appliances while dramatically increasing their cost (this includes Electric Vehicles - EVs),
15. soft on crime elements, 
16. a DOJ with an eye on political opponents and their supporters more than We The People, 
17. employing rhetoric to garner favorability without follow through, 
18. continued implementation and support for programs adverse to family values and unity, 
19. efforts to legislate immorality, with an emphasis on secularism over religious practices outside government, 
20. and a leadership with questionable abilities or dedication to tasks.

Do you want this to continue under Kamala, as you know it will. Even if Trump is not the person you like, is he the better choice? For me the answer is yes. 

Tom Balderston

Author and Blogger

October 2024

Islamists - Who and What They Are

Know this, Islamists are a killing machine borne of a sham religion attributed to a man filled with visions of grandeur while stupefied in a cave in Arabia. Died in 620, Muhammad’s hoard of caravan raiders trained to hate continued his campaign against those that opposed his pogroms. Muhammadism became Islam and Muslims spread out, born from the loins of warriors, pillaging Jerusalem and then Christian settlements along the north of Africa, establishing a framework of male dominance and superiority, women useful only to satisfy and propagate males to be militants, and females for more militants.  Their constitution was a manmade scripture outlining the means of dominance and directives for its subjects.  Adherents became bound risking their lives if alternative life guides were chosen. 

 

Terrorizing is by bullies who, unfortunately, when freed from their cages and having entered the free world are attempting to harvest a global Caliphate by bringing 7th century habits into modern civilized societies.  They use the Islamic supremacist model, requiring the suppression and destruction of all that is non-Islamic. 

Stopped at the gates of Europe, the border between Spain and France in 732, the current of onslaught abated. Spain in time eradicated the Muslim presence from its shores. The conquerers then moved east and an Empire grew, its’ capital became Constantinople . The Ottomans enjoying the spoils and ease of conquest, terrorists then, merged with the Islamists and from the east attempted anew at invading Europe.  In 1529 at the walls of Vienna their campaign ended and soon thereafter the autocrat sultans and other militant leaders of the Islamists were resigned to stay within their already captured boundaries. Europe knew well that Islam and freedom do not mix.  The arid dry desert from which they arose remained their destiny. 

Europe remained free of Islamists until now. And they let them in, opened their borders, knowing well the nature of the beast they were attracting.  In France there have been thousands of hate crimes, offenses of an anti-religious, racist or xenophobic nature which have increased year to year, including burning churches and desecrating religious statues. Neighborhoods under the influence of radical Islam find Christian’s or Christian converts being met with discrimination, intimidation and violence.  Similar destruction is taking place in the United Kingdom. Scandinavian countries, Germany too, are reporting frequent rapes by Muslim men preying on non-Muslims. Communities labelled “no-go” have been established where local police fear to go, and the laws within are Sharia (Islamic Laws). 

There was a recent attempt, thwarted, to create havoc and multiple deaths by a Muslim, Islamist, in Vienna at a scheduled Taylor Swift concert. From a recent commentary by Michael regarding terrorist plotting in Vienna against Taylor Swift posted on X, “Radical Islamic terrorism has been ruining things for the rest of the civilized world ever since its inception by an arrogant, delusional, pedophilic “prophet” who began shedding the blood of innocent people after being humiliated by those in the Middle East for rejecting him and his weird beliefs. This is just further evidence that this ideology is far from being a “religion of peace” which is what leftists want us to believe.”

From The River War, (1899) by Winston Churchill, 

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

This great British leader’s words remain as true today. But the defenses have been removed. The ordure of hatred has arrived and is now depriving freedom loving citizens of their dignity.  This invasion is making life tragic, imposing the autocratic and oppressive male habits of immigrant Muslims upon innocents, the weak and the ignorant. The spread of these vermin must be curtailed, not by appeasers, but by mighty freedom loving persons willing to fight and say no.

So what happens next? Do eyes remain closed? Do leaders comply and do nothing? Does the specter of the Ottoman Empire become a revival allowing the conquest to continue and globalism become a caliphate?

I say, close borders of all free nations and peoples to Islam, a sham religion, a killing machine, and an ungodly political ideology. When they come they do not assimilate, instead form communities isolated from others and intent on a continuation of the policies and politics of a 7th century zealot, to include Sharia Law, violating local ordinances, and death to freedom, peace and non-Muslims. 

By Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

September 2024

Trump Likes to Win

 

 

Trump likes to win, and he’s good at it, which has enraged his opponents, especially since he was taking away power that they feel is their right as Democrats. He won with his plain talk, his facts, and his street smarts. All have come in handy as he climbs the political ladder. However, he has enraged his opponents, the political elites, the Obama’s, Pelosi’s, Schumer’s, Clinton’s, and their wealthy supporters and beneficiaries, unaccustomed as they are to losing, having control, and dominating the halls of the Federal Government.  This has laid the groundwork for the attacks on DJT which seem never ceasing. Even those controlling the main stream media, filling host chairs with brainwashed academic personalities disguised as reporters or journalists, are reeling and find exposure not to their liking. To be succinct Trump is an eye-sore to the Magnates of the Party, a threat to their largesse. But he is great for American freedom loving non-woke, objective male and female Patriots.

By Thomas W. Balderston 

Author and Blogger

August 2024

 

The Voice - The Word

Reflect for a moment, regardless of your beliefs, of a shadow, the image of yourself that falls on walls, on the ground, from sunlight. No sound, just an image, in front, behind or to the side. Your movements may be reflected as well.  Now consider a hidden apparition, a remarkable silent voice, yet heard, whenever an individual commits an act that is wrong.  The voice may not be heard immediately, but it appears after, at some point, and may dwell. It is in your head.   The voice can be like dust on a shoulder, not easily removed; it may take several brushes of the hand, but never is it all gone. An alternative is to cover the dust, or for the voice, to deny its existence. That silent voice, but heard inside your head, is called ‘guilt.’ Too often ignored. 

But where does that voice come from?  Guilt is as the voice of truth, an awareness of knowing you have committed an error of judgement, actions that are abnormal, and do not reflect on correct habits or activities. Very few do not feel the guilt nor hear the voice. Who or what is it that infects the mind of man with reminders of folly? The voice is as a righteous decree. From a historical perspective the voices heard by our ancestors from all over this universe were referred to as an all powerful force of nature, or a god.  Attempts to describe god resulted in icons of the imagination.  There were moon gods, birds, animals, reptiles and idols made from clay, wood, even rocks to look human or non-human.   Yet they represented but one thing.  It is as an inherent element that exits within every person.  For many the voice is God, and for over 2 billion, possibly much more, it is the biblical God. In fact for all, it is God.  I will tell you why.

Why the Biblical God?  If you read the Bible it is as the voice speaking and making clear the demands on our human nature necessary to lead a proper life, a life caring of others, considerate of our bodies, prudent and moral, loving neighbor and God.  Jesus is provided as the perfect example, an example humans may strive for, yet never achieve.

Let me share a few Bible verses and as you read these verses substitute in your mind that ‘voice’ for the word God. 

“…God is being revealed…against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness….God has made it plain to them….Since creation…invisible qualities - …(an) eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen (or felt)…so that people have no excuse.” (from Romans 1).  The Bible says we need to thank the ‘voice’ for when everyone collectively obeys their ‘voice’ in the appropriate fashion life is better and peace exists. Your neighbors feel safe and secure.  Women feel safe.  People do not live in fear of others.  There is freedom.  In denial of what the ‘voice’ tells us people, their hearts and minds, turn to “sinful desires, sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (The truth is ) exchanged…for a lie.” The decision by humans ignoring the ever present voice is to create a false truth (a fabrication) to justify actions opposing the ‘voice.’ If enough humans agree or act in unison they create a false sense of being correct. The adage, a lie told often enough, by many, can become truth, from a media perspective anyway.  Individually they know otherwise. The result is manmade laws defying God’s commandments. 

Why was the Bible necessary?  The world was being taken over by immoral forces. A united force of evil rebelled against the ‘voice’ to do as they wanted.  This was the biblical fall from Grace, the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden. So humans can know or be reminded of how to live properly for themselves and others the passages written in the bible are their guide. The ten commandments is a good guide; who can deny that.  But many do. If you already listen to those voices and avoid being condemned or subject to guilt, you do not need to be reminded.  Unfortunately that is not the case for any of us. No one is perfect, except the biblical Jesus. 

“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. (Think LGBTQ etc.) They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers,  (liars), God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents, they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.”  (Romans 1)  The Bible continues saying people know God, hear the ‘voice,’ yet do bad things in defiance, and continue to do such things, practicing bad habits daily, regardless, “but also approve of those who practice them.”

There is a power in the universe, a reminder that lives in all of us.  From the Bible again, the Book of Mark, chapter 3, “Know the power we are working with, especially spiritual.”  The more the Bible, if you read it, informs us of what is proper and cannot be denied, the more meaningful it becomes until at some point it is impossible to ignore the inspiration behind what Christians call “the written Word.”  

by Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

Racism Fallacy

 

                        Fallacy                                                                           

“We live in an era defined and overwhelmed by grievance — by too many Americans’ obsession with how they’ve been wronged and their insistence on wallowing in ire…They promote a self-obsession at odds with community, civility, comity and compromise.” - John Sipher

Racism is not the issue the government makes it out to be. And with such emphasis by the government and disciples now called DEI, where diversity is emphasized, racism has become a torch being carried to advance the desires of many minorities. However, the issue is less racial and more uneducated.

Our education system needs to do a better job with entry-level students in the earliest grades by expanding their vocabulary and exposure to matters of personal hygiene, healthcare, diet, fitness, and general well-being. Most desirable would be to have children, infants, 2-year-olds, exposed to more information, words, discussion, than they are in many low income environments. Statistics, I believe show that children of better educated and more financially secure, as well as two parent homes, are exposed to a much broader vocabulary, in some case 150,000 words versus 15,000 words before they enter kindergarten.  When these children go to school the more exposed do better, understand more readily and are prepared to advance. Teachers too often advance poor performing students even though they are not at an equal level intellectually. This has nothing to do with race. They are not less intelligent, just less prepared to learn. They need more attention, more input, more care, not to be ignored and left to being embarrassed as slow, or just dumb. The teachers are told by their school district, the system, to promote all.  That is a systematic problem which creates division and a class of poor students versus more advanced.

The medical profession has been studied to discover a very important fact. Although the government, even the American Medical Association, suggests and calls for more diversity in the medical field, racism is not the problem.  Interviews of hundreds of practicing physicians when asked how they treat their patients, the answer was simply this.  We focus on the medical problem, not color, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. That is our calling, to care for the sick.  Color and race is not the issue.  We do not treat hispanics or colored, asian or white any different, unless there are factors of a unique nature that may impact a patients health.  Living conditions, personal hygiene, and ailments associated with certain types, as proven over time in research and medical practice, are considered in diagnostics and treatment.  And when these same professionals are asked how diversity has become an issue in selecting candidates for medical school and as medical residents, the response is, “It is not our choice.  It is the Government’s policies.”

Such diversity and the use of DEI, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in choosing candidates for schools, for medical specialties, to be surgeons, and to train, has created a concern.  In doing so the quality of those as a whole, the general nature of the skills of the medical pool made available to care for Americans, has been diminished.  Resident hours have been controlled by regulation, and as a result many residents do not get the experience and exposure to severe medical cases.  When a significant emergency occurs requiring all hands on deck, residents whose hours have reached a max by State or Federal law may have to leave, go home, or otherwise violate work rules. The result less experience with the hardest possible medical situations.  Government, politicians, have made being a doctor a job, not a dedication, and caring for and knowing how to care, and being trained in caring, less important that how many hours they work.  As a result you and me may not be treated when the time comes by the best possible medical professional.  If you want a doctor to treat you for a heart condition, or a surgeon to cut into your body, are you wanting the best possible or the result of diversity and DEI requirements.  

Standards are being reduced to accommodate meeting legislated requirements for diversity.  What is being realized, current diversity and DEI requisites are making the outcomes for all skills when applied less acute, less skillful.  The pool as a whole of the best is diminished.  It is unfortunate to have to admit this, but admit it we must.

The diminished outcome is related more to our education system, a weakened teacher pool protected by tenure and an inability to properly discipline students, as well as family situations.  Government must focus on the problem, not just pass it down the road.  Find a way to reach down into welfare families and provide better education, more incentives to learn and less dependency on welfare for years, even decades.  

by Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

May 2024