As a teenager, I was never excited about having to read two or three chapters of history a week. I wanted to read all of it and get it finished, much as one would read a novel or a non-fictional book. I figured, why not just read all of it? No one was on my side for that argument and now I think I’ve figured out why. Very few were interested in having to read any of it, let alone a 400-page book.
Once in college, that changed and so did my grades. I actually liked history once I learned the relevance to the politics of the day. I think that’s key, and why so many teachers do not reach many of their students. They simply do not demonstrate how what has transpired in the past, especially United States history, relates to what is presently going on and how it is affecting what happens today. Many of our laws today are not necessarily new—but an extension of what the original law as written intended. Of course, there are new laws written—many in just the last two decades to cover the “brave new world” of internet use and computers and cell phone usage. For anyone over the age of 35, think back to when you were growing up. How many times did anyone ever hear of an arrest made because someone was buying “kiddie porn” magazines? If you are plus forty-five, single and wanting to meet someone, the last place I would have considered was through an internet dating website. But on the other hand, is that really all that different from meeting someone in a bar and ‘hooking up’ for the night and seeing if a follow-up phone call would lead to something more permanent? Not really. Heck, for that matter, I remember when the local regional paper refused to include certain “personals” in their paper because of some homosexual bias. Yet, look today and anyone “seeking” anyone is available. Time does change what is “politically correct” versus what is not. Examples of this are everywhere we look. Pick a topic: gay rights or gays in the military. Environmental laws –who would have thought Minnesota would try to sue the state of North Dakota for ‘clean coal’ ? Fracking? Who knew about fracking twenty five years ago? Apparently not many, or the oil boom in western North Dakota would not have gone belly-up in the 80’s. The list goes on and on.
The one major difference between what our students now versus yesterday’s students must learn is the vastness of what is important to know. The total amount is phenomenal. I don’t envy the teacher who is responsible for determining what is truly important versus the “Trivial Pursuit” type of information. How does one learn such an incredible amount of information in only twelve years? And that’s providing the schools begin teaching them US History in the third grade.
Is there a reason we haven’t extended our free public educational facilities beyond twelve years?
Why can’t we? Call the extended two years an Associate degree or two years of Junior College.
Who cares, so long as our next generations are receiving the education they need to be literate and able to function in an ever-changing world that seemingly is moving faster and faster?
My mother graduated from high school when only eleven grades were required to earn a high school diploma. She graduated in 1937. I graduated in 1973 and only twelve grades were required by then. Perhaps it’s time we reevaluated how much time is necessary to teach our students what they truly need to know before we release them into the world that they will be not only a part of, but in control of eventually.
There has to be a better method than we are presently using. If you don’t believe me, talk to a sophomore or junior in high school to explain why we took so long to enter into World War II. Who determined we should deploy ground troops to Vietnam? What states never signed on to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, and has it ever been passed? How many Senators are sent to Washington, D.C., or how many Representatives, and do they know the differences between the two? Ask them about their own state, city or county governments, and which holds the power to do what? Why can a city cop cross state lines in pursuit but a county Deputy Sheriff cannot serve a legal document in a bordering state across the state line?
We all should have an understanding of how things work. When the majority does not—well, look at your government today. Do you think it is working for the majority? If you do, then, my friend, you are in the minority.
SENDING EMAIL TO SOO
While I do receive a lot of email from many of you, apparently there are some of you who have emailed me at an address that New Century Press may have. PLEASE —if you want me to see your emails, especially if you would like a response, send it to the email address I have always used for Right On the Edge at: sooasheim@aol.com
It’s pretty easy, really – you just need to remember how to spell my name!
Here’s to a great year ahead for everyone!!
RIGHT ON THE EDGE…
By: Soo Asheim
Email: sooasheim@aol.com