"Education Reform Needed"

On  Tuesday, December 14, 2010 "The Telegraph" printed in Columbus, Georgia and distributed in Middle Georgia, U. S. A. contained an interesting article by Brandon Brock entitled "Education Reform Needed."

This Young Scholar who is a Junior at Mary Persons High School of Monroe County, Georgia certainly appears to have a real sense of what an education should be.  I will quote the last three paragraphs of his article here:

"There is a misunderstanding of terms in the academic community.  The State Board of Education would have you believe understanding mean doing well on a test.  But true understanding as it elates to acquisition of knowledge cannot be measured in such a way.  It is impossible to measure because understanding something is personal and lies within an individual.  But that is inconvenient for the state."

"It cannot be proven, so it doesn't exist.  The only way to educate someone is to prove they are educated.  And the proof, in their system, lies in the test scores."

"This system defies the very essence of humanity.  Students lack the ability to think critically, and it is due to this flawed system.  This is nothing less than academic socialism.?"

I would suggest that young Brandon Brock has it right.  We do need citizens who can process information.  We do need citizens who can take a problem and solve it by evaluating all of the information which is applicable and then develop a real solution.

I salute young Brandon Brock for his ability to tell it like it is.  As I read the column I could not but think of Aaron Neville's Song "Tell It Like It Is" of 1966.  Certainly a different situation; but none the less, an individual who certainly relates to a problem!   Well Done Brandon!!!!!!