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LOUISA VIRGINIA
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Home| About Us| Background | Related Links | Issues | Events | |
LOUISA VIRGINIA
Note: This subplan addresses the educational process from pre-school through high school. Secondary and graduate level education is provided in a separate subplan.
The Problem:
According to “the experts” we have an education crisis in America. We rank well below many developed countries in such areas as math and science, high school drop out rates, being prepared for college and more. We spend enormous amounts per student with very poor results. Our children are not only burdened by a horrendous “national debt” but we are under-educating them as well. If they are to compete in the global marketplace of the future, we owe them a better education.
The Solution:
In a word – technology. We know what works and what doesn’t work. For example we know that when parents are “involved” with their children’s education, much better results are achieved. We know that “good teachers” do way better than “poor teachers.” We know that when students are “challenged” to excel - excellence results. Each of these areas can be improved with “technology.”
The first thing we need to do to improve education is to think “outside the box.” Consider the following scenario.
Each classroom is equipped with a large screen TV from which the best teachers in the country will provide lectures with unlimited resources for demonstrating the material being taught. For example, when US Geography is being taught, the teacher will be able to show videos about each state. When science or math is being taught, videos would show how the specific subject might be used in the real world. When primer reading is being taught, each student would have access to an IPOD type device to help them learn at their individual pace.
ALL parents would be required to participate in their children’s education. At home or in the workplace, parents would have access to monitoring student progress via the Internet. Parents would be required to “volunteer” at school a minimum number of hours per month. Parents would be required to spend time (at least 30 minutes) with their children each day going over school work.
Each student would be provided a “learning laptop” that would be used for all sorts of learning applications. This device would enable individualized learning that could be accomplished at each student’s individual pace. When a student doesn’t meet minimum standards, this would be detected early on and remedial action would ensue.
Each classroom would have two or more teacher monitors in attendance at all times. One or more of these could be “volunteer” parents. Each school would have lunch room that served “nutritious” meals, gymnasiums and exercise equipment to promote student physical activity and “special” facilities like music rooms, art studios, craft shops, etc.
Note: The ideas expressed herein have all come from the mind of the author. I’m sure much more and better initiatives would emanate from national, state and local “Education Committees.”