Startling Facts...

Here are some startling facts about our current education system in these United States. I find it hard to believe that a country that won the race to the moon can't solve its educational problems. You might want to sit down before you read these. Here we go...

n 2006, the United States ranked 25th out of the top 30 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations in math and 21st in science.

In 1970, the United States had 30% of the world’s college graduates, now it has only 15%.

On average, an American student drops out of high school once every 26 seconds. 1.2 million students drop out each year.

Throughout the 20th Century the United States led the world in high school completion rates. In 2005, we ranked 21st out of 27 advanced countries.

Each year, the U.S. spends $9,644 per PK-12 students compared to $22,600 per prison inmate.

Barely half of African-American and Latino students graduate from high school, with Latinos graduating at 56%, African-Americans at 54%, whites at 77% and Asians at 79%.

The results of 77 studies, involving over 300,000 students, indicate that parental involvement is associated with higher student achievement outcomes.

What do these facts tell us? First, that we have reached a crisis point. Second, our issues go deeper than with the school. We must also look to the family. And finally, it is time to do something different.

To find out more about these facts and to see more facts, click HERE or go to http://www.edequality.org/

Alarming Educational Statistics

Education seems to be in the news these days more than out. Reports are often conflicting and most of us are not sure what to believe. For instance, we keep hearing about educational reform and school improvement. The latest statistics will not cause you to rest any time soon.

According to the Broad Center, an agency designed to recruit and prepare leaders for the public sector school system, 70% of 8th graders can not read on grade level, 1.2 million students drop out of high school every year and 44% of dropouts under the age of 24 are now jobless. If these numbers were not bad enough, American students rank 25th in math and 21st in science compared to students in 30 industrialized countries. America's top math students only rank 25th out of 30 countries when compared to top students elsewhere in the world. Why?

What are the reasons for these alarming statistics? We are a wealthy nation full of promise yet, there seems to be issues in our educational system. There are no easy answers here, but there are answers if one wants to find them. There lies the key, in my opinion. We once had the best education in the world, and now, we do not. It seems to me that we could find the answers, if we really wanted to find them. Does anyone really want to find them?

The NEA is the most powerful educational force in this country. Go to their website and read what their vision is. It looks and sounds good, but now, investigate what they support financially and what bills and policies they push in DC. There, you will find the crux of the issue leading to my question: does this country really want to solve their educational issues? I have been following these international literacy scores for a long time, and our scores have not changed all that much. Again, the question: do we really want to solve our educational woes? The answer to this question may lead you into some educational decisions of your own.

I am for every student and do not want to play the public vs. private game, but with all the resources, funding and support available, there is really no excuse for our public sector schools to fail in the ways that they do. Except, if the answer lies beyond the pragmatism and practicality of education. If that answer lies in the spiritual realm where morality has finally succumbed to the years of war against it and become extinct in our public schools, then, what are we to do? The answer to this question is almost the same as above, it may force you to make some educational decisions of your own. The future of any nation lies in the education of its youth. Can you afford to wait and see? The decision is yours. Blessings!

Mediocrity and the Christian

Is it a sin for a Christian to be mediocre? Well, the question itself brings some tension, does it not?

No one wants to be called mediocre; no one wants to be called average. We all want to be told that we excel in something. We don't need to excel in everything, but in one little thing, it would be nice to know and tell others that we are well above average in something, right? Is that not the way we all think? I will venture a guess that it is.

If that is the way we think then why do we accept this whole idea of mediocrity. As Christians we do accept this idea of mediocrity, and we go one step further - we strive for it. You doubt me? What if I used other terms like tolerance, acceptance, grace and love? Do we use those words correctly or do we use those words to be mediocre?

Am I being too harsh? Maybe, I am way out of bounds on this one? Let's see! A. W. Tozer states,

"You're a believer, you're saved ; you know that but you're ordinary and you have no outstanding abilities or qualities ; not distinguished by spiritual superiority at all ; just following the customary ways of the church. Now, I leave it to you whether it describes you or not but I have observed a lot and I do observe that as well as pray and I find that most Christians are mediocre."

Mediocre, the term, means of moderate or low quality, value, ability or performance. There is nothing excellent or good about being mediocre. Tozer goes on to write about the term,

"Mediocre’ is a word that we use a lot without knowing what it means and mediocre means ‘half way up between the valley and the peak. It doesn't mean half-way between earth and Heaven, it means half way between where we used to be and where we ought to be. Now that's where I would describe the average Christian."

Is Dr. Tozer also being too harsh and judgmental? What are we doing these days that is excellent? We want everything for nothing. We refuse to be held to standards. We can not be inconvenienced. We question everything if it is not the way we think it ought to be. We think we are right about everything. We want our own way. We want to be rescued. We do not want to be held to any standard. And, the list goes on and on...

Why is this? Dr. Tozer believes it is because we would rather be safe than anything else. He writes,

"Christians want to be safe. This generation is the weakest that I have known and the weakest probably that we have ever had since our forefather's landed at Plymouth Rock! Everybody's bleating about security! We're hanging onto the neck of Uncle Sam as a baby hangs to the neck of its mother, whimpering and bleating! We want security but there's no security when you have a cross on your shoulder, my friend."

Mediocrity is easy and simple; everyone can do it. The world is mediocre, but the Christian is not called to mediocrity. The Christian is called to excellence for that is what Christ is. There are many who will doubt Christ as Lord, Savior or Truth. He is all of these represented well in the body of a Christian striving imperfectly to be excellent. It is the Christian that should set the pace; it is the Christian that should be the standard. It is the Christian that should be the example to the world of real excellence.

In the closing, I need to mention Colossians 3:2 because it is a verse that commands us to "set our minds on the things above." Many of us, myself included, have disregarded this verse. But, if we think in the practical reality of what happens when we set out minds on things, we discover a whole new perspective on this verse. When I set my mind on losing weight... I lose weight. When I set my mind of reading a difficult book... I read the book. Can you imagine if every Christian set their mind on the things above in the same way that they set their mind on their golf game, their diet, their job, their recreation and the list could go on and on.... Would the Christian have to worry about mediocrity? I think not.

Mediocrity and the Christian do not mix well nor should they mix well. We have a great calling - one rooted in Christ and always in excellence. Blessings!

What is Excellence?

The semantics of the word “excellence” are rooted in the idea of excelling or possessing good qualities in the highest of degrees, at least according to most of the definitions I’ve read. Something is called excellent only if it has been deemed good or is possessive of outstanding quality or superior merit. But, what of this idea of qualitative versus quantitative excellence, which is best?

To discern the difference, one must first define both terms. We begin with the term “quality.” What do we mean when we say something is of high quality? Quality is a functional unity of an object’s essential properties, its internal and external definiteness, its relative stability, its distinctive form and resemblance to other objects like itself as an example of the higher end of those objects like itself. The quality of an object is revealed in the object’s interactions with other like objects and in comparisons with the other like objects in ways that recognize the object that is in comparison with the other like objects as one of the very best of all of the objects being compared.

As for quantity, every group of homogeneous objects is a set. Quantity expresses the external, formal relation of objects, their parts, their properties, their connections and all other dimensions as part of that specific set. They are a member of that set by possession of all traits required of the set. Quantity is expressed by number, volume or any other form of measurement in ways that increase or decrease in a mathematical way membership of a certain set. It does not recognize any range in the set that is high or low; it only recognizes membership in the specific chosen set.

When we talk about excellence in quantitative terms we are talking about membership of a certain set of items and manipulation of the set by either addition or subtraction. When we talk of qualitative excellence we talk of excellence that is rooted in the essence of traits that are found in the higher end of the homogeneous set. Qualitative excellence rests in the top tier of the chosen set while quantity just recognizes membership in the chosen set.

Therefore, it makes sense for those of us in education to seek excellence that is qualitative and not merely quantitative. Unfortunately, we live in a time when qualitative and quantitative are confused terms and thought to be synonymous when in reality, they are more likely antonyms than anything. By definition, excellence has more traits in common with those things of quality than those things of quantity. Quantity can be deemed excellent but only in relationship with quality, and when it is one of those traits that marks something as high quality, but quality is always deemed excellent or at the very least good even without quantity. You would never deem something as having quality unless it was first deemed good or excellent. What is excellence? It is that which is, first, recognized for its high quality and almost never considered only for its quantity. Blessings!