What Has Happened to Educating our Children

 What Has Happened to Educating our Children

Knowledge

When we are born, what do we know?  Not much.  How do we learn?  First from our parents, grandparents and siblings, then possibly a mentor, our peers, our experiences, our teachers, our ministers (or preachers), our leaders, media and from books and other information sources. Parents are essential.  The majority, the masses, are a mixture of learning styles, influences, and understanding. However we can visualize a pyramid of citizens in any culture.  At the top are the leaders, the teachers, the preachers, the educated, the influencers, those that inspire and those that guide. For a family, a two person family, the peak of the pyramid is Mom and Dad.  As you progress down the pyramid the numbers grow, in the middle are those that are trained, educated, or equipped with skills and talents, and at the base are those gaining knowledge and knowhow, dependent on those above them in how and what they perceive as real, as truth and as important.  For the base to advance upward they need to grow in understanding.  They become part of a culture, a society, and can add or detract from the overall success of their environment. 

As children mature and develop their independence and the God gift of discernment emerge and they can begin to learn and discover for themselves.  Self-motivation becomes a factor, as well as prior conditioning and any limitations imposed by their culture or society.  Parents remain the guardian, unless they are removed from the equation. 

How we learn is determined mainly by and from whom we learn. We can be taught objectively or subjectively. We can be trained and indoctrinated.  As students, or subjects, we can be conditioned according to the will, the desires, or the needs of those that are in charge. The young, the impressionable, are sponges that are ready to absorb, even forced, to accept what they are exposed to, especially if there is little choice as to subjects or curriculum. Parents, if permitted, can guide, and should, but if removed from the avenue to learn, then they are but those that resist or abet those in charge of the subject matter to be taught, and the physical requirements to be met. 

I cannot stress the importance of family in the nature (how, what and where) of that which our children learn.  Bias can be imparted a willing subject.  

When it comes to what and how our children learn, think of a sport, like tennis, where there is a divider between opponents.  The ‘net’ is the point of division.  Each side seeks victory.  However, much different than a sport, or tennis, when it comes to the education arena, a virtual ‘net’ does exist.  The sides can be quite different.  And a parent, more than the child, can choose the side of the divide they prefer their children be taught.  Today we have two sides, mainly, the liberal side and the conservative side.  

Politics in Education

It has become political. Democrats are battling Republicans. This fight for the minds of children and Americans has come to the classroom. Churches are being criticized as being part of the establishment, and Republican, yet many Democrats remain believers.  The social justice the liberals seek, in my view, should be the role of the church, not the government.  In the past both Parties would embrace the American flag, patriotism, God and love of country, but that has changed. The New York Times (NYT) noted on July 3 that “flying a flag…is increasingly seen as a clue…to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation.” (I added the italics as emphasis). Maxine Waters, a face of the left, claimed on the 4th this year that it is ‘racist.’  Because there was slavery at the time of the Declaration of Independence the American ideal portrayed left out the blacks.  She may have missed her civics classes on the Civil War and the battle to rid our country of slavery, the result, emancipation.   In addition if the ‘establishment’ are the patriots and the churchgoers, then they are to be opposed by the political left.  Why? Well, just because…they are conservatives. This type of thinking obviously impacts what our children hear, see and learn.  It reflects on the opposing sides of the “net.’ And our leadership tends to go along with the social justice warriors, more identity politicos that defenders of our Nation’s heritage and faith base. 

The conservative side has its leanings, its prejudices, with an emphasis more on independent thinking, strong family values, less government interference in our lives, a strong emphasis on achievement, learning what enables a person to succeed and be objective, favoring competition, and generally with strong ties to faith or the biblical God.  Conservatives also believe, generally, that States should make the decisions regarding educating children in their respective States, not the Federal government.  The Federal Department of Education should be disbanded save for a small contingent that may allocate funds to help State education programs.  

 

An evolved label for the liberal side is progressivism, as if they embrace progress. Today the face of the progressive liberal is composed of advocates for black lives matter, efforts to defund the police and make city streets less safe by not incarcerating criminals (no bail), creating alternate American History that punishes white persons (a collective that actually includes all races of successful people) as historically oppressors of slaves (not all slaves were black mind you), seeing no need for God to achieve success, opposing anything a Republican suggests or puts forward legislatively, even as to persons put up for office, to include the Supreme Court, and ignoring the purpose, value, and importance of family, a home with a mother and father to raise children. 

The progressives want the government to provide for their health, for their livelihood, and for their education. They consider these issues as Rights.  They respond to government as a parent responsible for overseeing they have a good life; responsible for their welfare.  They seek ‘equity’ more than equality.  To them ‘equality’ is a God term, also one present in the Declaration of Independence, written by white men, that declares, “all men are created equal.”  

 

‘Equity’ in fact is a rebalancing by taking from those that achieve and succeed,  living what is defined as better lives in better neighborhoods, and transferring wealth to those considered the ‘have-nots.’ This is all to be done under the aegis of ‘fairness.’ 

The current Administration and its spokespersons use the term ‘equity’ frequently in their penchant to distribute far more than Americans can ever cover under the current tax structure.  Even taking all moneys earned would not pay the indebtedness and for the programs the current authoritarian establishment continues to propose.  

Those that work and earn enough to pay taxes will pay not just for the operations and Constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government, but also for all citizens, primarily those that do not pay taxes.  This is the ‘equity’ todays progressive leaders proffer. 

Progressive liberals find more than the 4th of July, the flag, patriots and God offensive, or divisive, they also find suburbs problematic.  They contest testing that can result in outcomes that may lean towards one ethnic or color group over another as unfair, never considering the role of the parent to have their children succeed and study and thus test well to be able to access better schools and receive the best education possible.  The reason parents motivate their children is so they can take advantage of the equal opportunities our society provides.  But when made less equal, according to the liberals, because there are those willing to work harder and smarter than others, then that is not in ‘equity’ right.   Simply by achieving, no matter the struggle to do so, makes the achiever ‘privileged.’ Those so ‘privileged’ need to share, in ‘fairness.’  This is what is being taught on the left side of the ‘net.’ Beware the words being said and taught by today’s authorities.

As a brief aside.  The 4th of July, referred to as ‘Independence Day,’ may be problematic for the progressives.  They tend to shy away from ‘independence’ in preference for ‘dependence.’ A more dependent society will be beholden to the Federal Government for necessities, and thus vote for those who disregard fiscal responsibility for excessive spending and entitlement offerings.  The Democratic Party platforms tend to identify the wealthy, the achievers, the 1%ers as ‘privileged’ and generate ill-will towards family, God and the successful.  It is as if taking advantage of America’s opportunities is wrong. They also play the Race Card liberally, the target any who have improved their lives, as if those who have achieved look down upon those that have not.  

Bias

When it comes to what our children learn, especially in schools and universities, the bias and opinions of the teachers and professors becomes a critical factor  If they favor teaching only the left ‘net’ side, because of their own development and what they believe, whether true or not, the minds of our youth, as sponges, may be filled with toxic ideas and ideals - poisoned. 

Objective teaching should be a requisite, with staff offering both sides of the ‘net’ so as to enable our youth to grow and make their own choices.  In fact opinions should be left at the classroom door, and only facts, proper history, the good, the bad, such as both sides of the Civil War, need to be explained.  Teachers need not tell their student who, what and why they hate.  

Feds and Education

Unfortunately the Federal Government has become all too involved, bringing politics into the classroom.  States Rights as to what a given State can decide to teach children was stripped from States under Jimmy Carter’s Presidency (39th), along with Energy, when the liberals created a National Department of Education (and Energy).  50 experiments for proper education, even the choice of a State a parent might decide to live in because of the education offered, was removed from the American scene.  Now the political party at the helm, should they choose, can dictate what is being taught nationally.  Today we have the ‘net’ divided over Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project, teaching, respectively, hatred towards achievers, considered all ‘white’ and ‘supremacists,’ and altering history and the honored July 4, 1776 start to our Republic and Constitution.  The date Congress endorsed the Declaration of Independence, when we were free at last, is critical to remember.

But there are elements within our free society that want your freedom. They are encouraged at the highest levels. They want to change history.  It was said in 2020, at the time of Independence Day as riots were spreading in major cities in our great nation, the progressives are conducting “a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children.”  Atop the ‘net’ as projected from the progressives is a banner that reads ‘racism.’  This is the divider today, and a constant theme of one side of the political spectrum.  It is voiced without any allowance for objectivity.  We are all subject to this constant discourse and leftist obsession, having ignored any progress, in fact all progress, America has made towards its stated National objective of ‘equality’ for all. 

 

And the Main Stream Media are mostly clones for the progressives, having grown up drinking the same ‘koolaid.’ They have been restricted in their learning to the left side of the ‘net.’ Had they learned from both sides they may be more open minded and willing to have a dialog. 

At the apex of America’s leadership pyramid we have today a President that has been catering to the progressive side of his Party.

You Gotta Have Faith

The world has little of lasting quality.  It struggles with the material elements and the many temptations. They may be nice for a while, but then fall apart, age, or find a substitute, are discarded, and in many cases become a disappointment.   Humans are fickle.  To deal with the challenges we face daily faith is necessary.  Through faith, and for me a relationship with Jesus, we can see the proper side of the ‘net,’ that which separates truth and fiction, liberal attitudes and conservative attitudes, and make every effort to stay on that side. 

 

When it comes to the thought of God, the biblical God and the Word as a guide to our lives, the liberals are like the serpent in the Garden of Eden.  The serpent told Eve nothing will happen should you eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, even though God said, anything but that tree.  There is a heavenly ‘net,’ as it were, with God battling daily, Satan, the forces of good versus the forces of evil.  So it boils down to a preference of the side of the ‘net’ to be chosen, that of good, or that of evil, that of resistance to the many temptations of life or simply accepting the temptations as if no harm will result. This is where parenting is essential.  Parents are the first instructor as to what is good.   If they should decide, ignoring that which is good, which they in their own lives may do, they leave a child adrift in a sea without the needed propulsion to take them safely to shore. This is when spiritual leadership is also needed.  A child of God can find a safe footing when all else dissipates.  Being educated on both sides exposes our children to all truth, as well as consequences.  Biblical teaching should not be neglected. 

Love America

I disagree with the July 3 NYT published piece describing ‘patriotism,’ our love of America, as divisive. This really depends on what side of the ‘net’ you are on.  What is more unifying, more patriotic than 4th of July celebrations and displays. Our Flag, America the Beautiful, Glory Glory Hallalujah, the Star Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes Forever. Come on man!  We celebrate our freedom.  Let history show and be taught as to how America was founded, what our discoverers left, and why, and about the role of religion in our founding.  Let our youth know those who died fighting for our right and desire to be and remain free. And the same applies to freeing us from slavery. Thousands of white men died to eliminate any form of slavery in America. It was a States Rights issue too.  We are neither communist nor marxist, not even a socialistic nation to be dictated to by an autocrat, or autocrats, or even one Party. 

Yes, we are a Judeo-Christian nation.   It is where freedom reigns.  Teach what that means.  Let the Bible be one of the text books used in our schools.  

At one time in our history there were but two texts in schools, the Bible and the Eclectic Primer.   Education is about reading, writing, and arithmetic, then comes history, and literature. Respect for each individual, should be a given.  These skills will enable our youth to live their own lives.    

What value has teaching Critical Race Theory to an elementary school student or high school student, and how will CRT knowhow help a college student get a job. What value has teaching the alphabet as if it is LGBTQ?  I did not have sex education until high school.  Then it was about what happens when we have sex, how babies are formed, and born. Contraception was more abstinence, be careful and not be using Planned Parenthood as a condom after the fact. Hatred must be left out of the class room, with the doors open to working together, cooperation, love of neighbor, your fellow student, a love of knowledge, a desire and willingness to work, to apply oneself, and achieve no matter a person’s background. We are equal. We are equally free.  What we are not is all the same. Inherent in society, across all ethnicities, cultures and skin colors, is diversity. That is the diversity we need to embrace.  It is this mixture that makes America great.   We can learn about each other, respectfully.

Our leaders are in charge of education of all citizens in what they say, how they act, the issues they support, and the appreciation they have for our history, our success, our flag, and our unique independence and freedom.  It is the leaders that must be in the fight to maintain that which the founders created.  The founders created America for all of its citizens.  Certainly there were prejudices, and there still are, but they are being mitigated as we continue to blend into one another as united citizens of a free Nation.  Almost everything made today is made better, works better, and is easier to deal with than in years prior.  Call it all more modern.  So too is our culture and society.  We continue to progress, to modernize, and that takes a committed, God loving, family loving, person (leader, influencer, mentor, parent, friend, teacher) to instill the truth, the facts, the reality, and the proper tone in us all. 

That which is essential for a leader and teacher is to impart wisdom to the many, the multitudes that require proper guidance and correct information. They cannot be deceivers. They are to motivate, encourage, and incentivize and have the majority gather to be filled, and fulfilled, with a love, faith and dedication to one another. We are a Nation of God’s children, to be led by God and equipped to resist the temptations to be free without faith.  Such freedom can lead us in the wrong direction.  For many today, that is what is taking place. It is easy to corrupt.  It is difficult to build up a citizenry to be unified.  That is what makes for a healthy house.  And God needs to be in the house with us. Our leaders as advocates must only be for the good of society, that which makes our Nation great. 

Teach the differences or not, just decide what your children should and can be taught.  Do not allow the system to be your educator, as that creates ‘systematic’ biases.  Parents need to be in charge and remain in charge.  Do not allow the system to become your child’s parent and dictate what they must know. There is no substitute for Mom and Dad.

Freedom

Are you on the side of being free or not?  Are you on the side of love or hate?  Do you prefer a balanced education, even viewpoints when in balance or allowed to be objectively debated?  Encourage children to embrace history, embrace literature, to read, and to become motivated to explore on their own.  We do not want a Muslim culture where any who read, even own a bible, are to be punished. Allah as a leader was, as noted in the Quran, ‘the best of deceivers.’ That is not what a great leader can be. We must allow children to learn about the leaders, the good and the bad, especially our Presidents, the warriors, the victors and the defeated, the Ulysses Grants and the Robert E. Lees, the Jeffersons, Lincolns, Tafts, Roosevelts, Clintons, Reagans and Obama’s.  How did America form, the States and even Emancipation?  Why did the explorers travel West from Europe and not East to trade with sources then known?  And never forget God. 

….

Our Education system was once much better.  We need to go back to the structure prior to the Carter Administration’s taking the Right of each State to educate its children according to the will of the people of its State. Educating our children to be open minded, objective, willing to debate, respectful of one another and to think, is critical.  Let the Blue States be Blue and the Red States be Red, and the parents choose in which State they want their children to learn. 

As the graph pictured shows as students get older, instead of being more interested and enthused about education, they are less.  This is a failure of our teacher and system. 

Note:  As this is published Oregon announced a program to reduce the level of education standards, proficiency, in math, reading and writing, to graduate high schools.  This to level the playing field and deal with ‘white supremacy.’  Article being written for future posting:  ‘Proficiency Deficiency.’ 

by

Thomas W. Balderston

Author and Blogger

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