Comment on Oprah's Show on Education

Oprah Winfrey's Friday, September 24th show was most provocative, timely, and intriguing!! Each of the guests offered a thought or viewpoint that was constructive relative to moving the country forward in the realm of education.

Oprah's guests included Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone, Cory Baker the Mayor of Newark, NJ, Chris Christie the Governor of New Jersey, Arne Duncan the Secretary of the Department of Education and Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook who is donating $100 million to the city of Newark to reform its education system.

The most profound idea that was generated among the entire group, including statements by Oprah, dealt with the idea that to improve education in the country we have to stop the blame game and come together. Of this there is no question. This is the case with many of today's problems, concerns, and issues...coming together.

I found Cory Booker, the Mayor of Newark, NJ and Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone to be most impressive because of their passion relative to making a great education a dream that comes true for all, even those who, up to now, have been left behind.

Mr. Booker has a great point when he states that we have to get rid of "sedentary agitation." He, of course, is referring to the fact that people get upset with some poor practices in some areas of education and people do nothing about it. He calls on all concerned to "stop the blame game." He is spot-on concerning this point. Unions, government groups, school officials, parents, students, and everyone else involved in education have got to have a common goal. We all have to simply help children while refraining from pointing fingers at one another for the real or perceived failure(s) that exist.

In terms of specifics Mr. Canada offered some that I think we need to implement. As a retired teacher, of over 30 years, and a current substitute teacher, I agree that the school year needs to include more instruction days and more time, each day, needs to be spent on instruction.

I would like to encourage my teaching colleagues and union officials at all levels to embrace the idea and to work with school officials to find a way of achieving this while making the appropriate compensation for the extended effort.

Unless we move forward on a variety of fronts then we are likely to face a situation described by Cory Baker. He warns us that if we don't make educational reforms "we can't have a superior democracy with an inferior education system." There are plenty of great teachers and terrific systems in place right now but we can do our part to help those in need.

To those who continue to aid Schools Count Corp, you are certainly doing your part to help those who most need the assistance.

Thank you, Dick