Students First
Dec 09, 2010
I’m passionate about education. I believe the education system in this country is broken. It has to be – why else would the numbers be so dismal?
• Our children are not reading at grade level.
• Our children fail in math and science when compared to other countries.
• Our children’s test scores have not improved in decades.
I’m also passionate about taking action when you see a problem. That’s why I’m involved in Take Stock in Children. That’s why I endow the Zimmerman Advertising Program (ZAP) at USF. That’s why I started our summer internship program here at the agency. However, I realize that if we expect widespread change to take place in this country’s education system, it has to come from higher up.
I wrote about Michelle Rhee in a blog post in August when she was making headlines as the chancellor of DC schools. She is now making even bigger headlines since resigning from that position. Everyone has been talking about what job offer Rhee was going to accept – she’s been offered multiple prestigious positions. Rhee surprised everyone earlier this week by announcing (on Oprah!!) that she’s not taking any of these jobs. Instead, she is launching an interest group/political lobby called “Students First.” “Students First” is a movement to transform public education. Rhee’s goals are to raise $1 billion and recruit 1 million members.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: More people need to take action like Michelle Rhee. Too many people see a problem yet do nothing about it. There are several life lessons we should all learn from this woman:
Jordanism: There’s a thin line between brilliance and insanity.
People say great minds think alike. That’s crap. In reality, the more different you think, the more unique you will be. Think outside the box – do things your own way.
Jordanism: Fear nothing.
Have no fear in what you say. Say what you think – it just might be brilliant. If you have fear, you’re never going to achieve incredible success.
Jordanism: Get knocked down ten times…stand up the eleventh time.
Don’t take no for an answer. Everyone is going to experience a setback at some point. Don’t let it stop you.
When asked why she started “Students First,” Rhee said, “I decided that part of what I wanted to do was to create this movement, so that people would know: You’re not alone.” Will you have the courage to join her?
LINKS:
Fast Company – Michelle Rhee Announces Launch of an Education-Reform “Movement”
Students First – Sign the Pledge
The education of our children is our future and government spending definitely does not provide the proper allocation to education. Often school budgets are voted down, more so by elder generations (shown statisticallly as the top voting demographic among past elections in Florida, and the US) that are too “distant” from students to have a concern for the importance of education. My current involvement to improve this issue (especially because of the recent Florida elections gone bad, including people actually voting to make class sizes larger which means less attention per student) is focused on encouraging younger generations to vote on these specific topics that involve THEM. By partaking in art programs thru AIGA to encourage voting and getting involved with Rock the Vote campaigns, I hope to show the importance of what younger generations can change for a better tomorrow. One vote really does count.
She should work with Say Yes to Education http://www.sayyestoeducation.org
This post was quite wonderful. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. And yes, I already joined!
As an immigrant who went through a pretty testing schooling and who was discouraged from the beginning, I am absolutely hopeful for this movement take off.
And, I thank you for understanding and addressing that looking for solutions and moving forward matters more than bickering and sitting stagnantly.
We are all “students first.” Now we need understand that we should all be students always.
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Alex Santiago
@SoSaic
I am also an advocate of education, therefore I enjoy seeing discussions surrounding the topic. I agree with Jordan’s comment that the education system in this country is broken. However, a major contributing factor to disappointing numbers is the parents/guardians.
Parents/guardians need to accept their critical role in the success of their kids in school. A part from making sure that their children are out the door in morning to school, there are many ways for parents to contribute to the academic success of their children. Mandate that children read at least half an hour after school instead of watching TV, playing video games, or socializing on the Internet; parents can join in and read with them. Instead of buying a child, who is struggling with Math, the latest fashion or video game, spend the money on a Math Tutor.
The successful of children in school starts at home. You might call that statement a cliché – but it is fact.
Jordan…this morning at the gym you were telling me about the high salary of college coaches. Below is a website that may give you additional information on the subject. As you read the salary infomation of coaches, keep in mind that the starting salary for a beginning level professor in the College of Arts and Letters at FAU is $51,000. As a trustee at USF, you are faced with the following question: How does sport (especially football) support the educational mission of the school?
“Big” Art Evans (at lifetime fitness)
http://www.americasbestonline.net/index.php/pages/collegehighestpaidcoaches.html