Generation Next

Mr. R. T. Rybak, Executive Director, Generation Next;

Thanks for the invitation to participate in this "Generation Next" discussion in seeking solutions to the problems in education.

Put an end to poverty and fully integrate the public schools, and instead of paying for wars fully fund all public schools including reducing the property taxes while taxing the rich and this will solve 95% of the problems our public schools are experiencing.

Of course it doesn't help to have a teacher union like Minnesota Education supporting and funding the campaigns of politicians who are the enemies of public education like Republican State Representative Tony Cornish.

When it comes to jobs, Affirmative Action needs to be enforced if the youth being trained for jobs are going to get the jobs they are being educated and trained for.

Mr. Rybak, I think you are trying to make the problems more complex and confusing than what they really are.

Oh, and feed the kids free breakfast and free lunch in school... I don't know if you understand this or not, but it is very difficult to learn on an empty stomach.

Get rid of all the pop machines and give the kids free milk and juice.

A very simple and inexpensive project kids of all ages could be learning from is preparing the soil, planting and harvesting from community gardens. Kids learn to read, write, do math, learn history, art and science from projects like this... but, then again, corporations don't make big profits from projects like this. Older students can learn the same things from remodeling, rehabilitating and building homes.

Keep public libraries open more days and longer hours.

Have more recreational programs for the youth; ask the youth what programs they want. Some kids might want to play sports, others sing and dance or play Scrabble or do arts and crafts. Lots of kids seem to be interested in photography.

Want to make sure more youth graduate from high school--- let them know there is free higher education... vocational training, college and university available to them.

Make sure there are jobs at good living wages available for youth once they get their high school diploma.

Do you think I should keep a list of these things to check off what you get done? 

Of course it would be good if we had politicians and government where the needs of children and youth come first; this would require a free National Public Child Care Program and a National Public Health Care System--- both could be established on the public education model: public funding and financing, public administration and public delivery.

No child or youth should have to suffer of go without an adequate education because adults have messed up priorities where wars are funded before these human needs.

Keep those darn lying military recruiters out of the public schools.

One other thing; start sending kids at a young age to special classes designed for them in the colleges and universities on Saturdays. Let the kids get a little feel for higher education.

Good luck in your efforts to improve our public schools.

Looking forward to your response,

Sincerely,

-- 

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

 

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/