In his State of the Union speech, President spoke directly to all of us on the powerful need of education for ALL students -
“Think about it. Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us –- as citizens, and as parents –- are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed."
As the Fountain Hills community and as a nation our perseverance and willingness to take on systemic change and "move forward" in a repressive economy and attacks on public school funding will determine our collective future. It can't just be about school staff but all stakeholder groups from parents, town leaders, community activists, legislators, volunteers, students and service groups must all play a role in propelling our young learners forward in achieving a future not yet created. Our doors and our hearts must open up to meeting the emotional, physical and intellectual needs of students with less resources but with global opportunities.
Let us resolve that education must and will be foundationally provided for all young people knowing that a lifetime of learning is a reality in an ever changing world. Within this resolve must come access to flexible learning systems that offer our students different learning platforms, interaction with technologies and informational support systems allowing for a constant, consistent ability to achieve new knowledge and skills.
Educators must set aside the realities of the past with the realities of the future that will demand flexibility and efficiencies or face being cast aside by more progressive learning pathways. Here at Fountain Hills Unified we speak to evolving into a 24/7 system that offers learners not only multiple opportunities to achieve; but also hope created to guarantee their success through collective student-centered stakeholders. "Learning for all means all" - let us not stray from that important mission.
Great write up Superintendent Dr. Myhr.
ReplyDeleteEducation doesn't cost, it pays. This is something many legislators don't seem to understand. At the end of WW ll the GI Bill was passed. At the time, many in Congress voted against it as being too costly and unaffordable.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago a study was done and it was determined that over the years billions more have been paid back into the Treasurey than was payed out as the Bill's benefits. That's because millions of better educated ex-service men and women had better jobs and so boosted the economy by paying higher taxes and buying more and better goods than they otherwise would have.
The "savings" the legislature is making now with significant cuts in education funding will come back to haunt us in the future. For sure.