Public+Policy+-+K-12+Education

[|wussification of sports][|segregation concerns][|strip search case]
 * K-12 Education**

The topic of discussion of course will be on K-12 Education. This is considered to be one of the most important issues and topics in our nation due to the fact that our kids hold the future of our nation together and it is evidently up to the teachers, parents, and role models to shape our kids into our futures next doctors, teachers, politicians, athletes, etc. Whether we want to believe it or not this policy is ultimately the most important one, because without educated children; there will be no future for America. Some of the topics i will be discussing are some important issues that are involved right now with what is going on with the educational system. Some of the procedures that are being used, and what authority does the school officials have to implement them. Also i will discuss different ideas on what to think about as far as the nation in general trying to change the way we do business with our kids in public schools acroos the country. I have added a link above to showcase one of the hot topics that went all the way up to the supreme court recently and won. Savana Redding, now 19, whose lawsuit in Arizona stirred up alot of media attention in regards to a strip search that was administered to her by a school official when se was 13 for perscription drugs. Now this subject can be broken down into many categories. First thing to consider is there were two kids that had issues with pills in this middle school just outside of New Mexico, and one of the little girls said she recieved some pills from Savana. The pills turned out to be perscription strength ibuprophen, which is equivalent to two advils. Anyhow, once this news was brought to the Vice Principals attention, Savana was immediately brought in for questioning. Then she was asked to dump out her backpack and all her belongings, and after not discovering any pills there, she was then strip searched, looking through her under garments and clothing. According to officials, this is a direct violation of the 4th amendment for unlawful search by the government. The major concern is who authorizes the school officials to take it upon themselves and search a 13 year old child in eighth grade, simply because another kid said she got the pills ffrom Savana. Not only is it against the law, and morally wrong, but how much power are we willing to give school officials? There is a fine line between the safety of the school and the lack of knowledge and professionalism it entails for a school official to know what proper procedures to take in case of situations like this. Last time i checked we were not getting strip searched just because a kid said we had something. What the parents need to do is protest against these officials and put a guideline in place that specifically details these procedures so this incendent does not occur again.

Another heated issue going on right now is desegregating schools all over again. In a case in California, there are two schools under the radar right now as well as many others across the nation, that are trying to impliment a way to desegragate schools. Only 34 % of white students are attending these 70% multi-racial schools. Many beleive that this trend will set society back if we do not do anything about this situation now. It is the efforts of the parents that are called for in this topic, because it is there responsibility to teach their children what is right and wrong. I understand that people will have their own beliefs but racism has never been tolerated in our society for a long time, and that is why policies were put in play a long time ago to ensure the future of America was not segregated. I think now more than ever since we have a African American President in charge of the nations Executive branch, we should open out eyes more to reality that things have changed in America. This is not the 60's anymore and racism of course unfortunately is always gonna exist, but at least we can put forth efforts to teach our children through the schools that racism is wrong. Having multicultural teams, and cafeterias, and classes will not only benefit society in general, but will educate others on topics and ways of life that they have not expierienced before.

Now another topic i wanted to discuss might be heading to the supreme court sooner than we think. It is call the "wussification of sports." Yes i know a little much but it raises for some nice issues to discuss, and eventually enough parents will complain that it will become a legal issue. I watched a episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumble on HBO a few months back and the topic was K-12 P.E./ recess. Now there are certain schools across the nation that are banning the game of dodgeball, stateting that is is human hunting. And that the games that are played are no longer kept score. For example while jumping rope, there is no longer a rope. This allows the kids to always win. You can not miss the rope if the rope is there so the kids are now simply jumping. Also instead of playing the great game of tag, they have to tag the other person's shawdow now. No physical contact is aloowed in these schools. Granted this issue brings up valid points on both sides of the fence but come on, this is getting a little out of hand. Life is about competition; winning and losing. There are not many jobs in society that care if you win or lose during the hiring process and this false sense of always winning is unrealistic expectations that will haunt our children in the future. I know this topic all depends on if you were the one throwing the dodgeball or always getting hit by it, but either way your learning valuable lessons in life that you can not find in a textbook. In ancient times and early civilization, games were outragiously more brutal than they are now, and that is just how it was. We start treating society in a "sissy" fashion so to speak, than not only are we setting ourselves up for failure, but eventually leaving the nation open for attack by other countries, who will consider America weak. America has never been weak, that is why we broke away from British rule to start our own country, so let kids play dodgeball!

There are so many other policies and issues i can discuss but unfortunately i do not have the time to complete all of them. One last issue i wanted to discuss before concluding was theeducational standards in place for K-12 schools in different regions of the states. Many smaller schools in little towns on the outskirts of the counties will have a graduating class of 50 or so kids. In a huge 5A district school one class may have 50 kids. The issue is that in those smaller schools, it is fair to say that they are not getting the same education as the bigger schools. On top of the smalls schools, the racially segregated schools in the urban communities are also getting treated poorly and unjust. There needs to be a set standard regardless of the place ethnicity or location for every single student in that respected grade level. I've personally seen too many kids getting special treatment or scholarships from little 1A schools or urban populated schools just because they do not have it as nice as the more populated schools with better funding. What are we really teaching kids? The same boy who has a 3.8 G.P.A. in small town U.S.A. can not test as high as a boy with a 3.0 G.P.A. in a 5A school, but because he has a 3.8 and he is the top of his class of 50 than he should be rewarded. Granted i know every situation is different and it is easy to judge this issue as a whole, but it is happening every year, and we should look more into this issue and make it a policy. The children should all learn equally regardless of location. Remember, it is not their fault they live there it is the parents.

Well this wraps up some of the issues related to K-12 Education in today's society. I hope in the near future we can resolve some of the issues and come to a better understanding or agreement of what our children need in schools to become successful in life to sustain America's future for years to come.