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Fixing and Funding Education in the U.S.Posted by Arman Rousta |
Sep 21
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The purpose of 401kid.com and this blog is to raise awareness on issues, engage with people of all races and classes around the world, and provide useful solutions in the area of education. A major focus is put on America because well, this is where I was born and raised; as my home country, America is my backyard, and therefore I feel obligated to address problems at home as a top priority. With my business having offices in the U.S. and Asia, and my family from the Middle East and now dispersed through Europe and Canada, I have global connections as well. We are all global citizens first and foremost, which unfortunately our country’s “leaders” and many other world leaders, seem to forget. A good analogy is to think about our country as our home, and other countries as our neighbors. Or our country being equivalent to the individual – you – and others making up the members of your family – brothers, sisters, cousins, etc. We are all related. So while we must take care of ourselves and our homes as a primary responsibility, seeking and providing help to others, and sharing our experiences and best practices, is essential for solving the world’s problems, including education.
How the U.S. goes about fixing its deplorable educational system is, along with healthcare and energy, one of the major challenges of our time. I don’t think we can sit back and depend upon government solutions, although we must pay attention to whose in charge and encourage appropriate investments into formal and supplemental education programs. After all, it is the people’s hard-earned tax dollars at hand, which should be redistributed in service of we the people. Isn’t that the American promise and way the system should work?
Politics aside, by “education”, I am referring to more than just formal education received in schools, although of course that is of central importance. We also consider the following forms of education to be pivotal in shaping the lives of children and influencing their futures:
1. education at home – from parents and family;
2. education from media - which reflects influences from TV, Internet, video games, newspapers, advertising, politicians and businesses;
3. extracurricular education – from coaches and non-formal teachers, such as a piano teacher, religion teacher or camp counselor;
4. education from social influences – friends, activities with friends, and members of one’s surrounding community; and last but not least,
5. self-education – interests which one chooses to pursue as a result of their own inclinations and/or influences from any of the categories above. For example, say your daughter takes a liking to animals, and decides to pick up a book on “Cats & Dogs”. That becomes an important part of her self-education.
There are many ways to slice these non-formal education categories, and there is significant overlap and interplay between these five. For example, media influences can be highly controlled by parents, in terms of what the household rules are for video games, Internet and TV, which may differ from what the rules are in the homes of your children’s friends. Further, you may notice that these five non-formal education categories are less tied into government funding and support, which puts the onus more on parents, communities and children themselves. That’s right, you – young men and women of the world – must take on some of the responsibility for properly educating yourselves, by choosing good influences and activities, and utilizing the modern world’s technology for your own benefit. I can hardly imagine how much smarter I could have been as a child if I had Wikipedia and Google at my fingertips! On the flip side, I could have been that much more distracted and pulled away from playing sports and being a physically active child.
To date, since launching in 2000, 401kid has been focused primarily on providing formal education funding advice through the development of ESP Wizard. The software is excellent and along with the associated calculators, provides a good starting point for a family’s education financial planning.
However, we have always known and I sense now more than ever, that education funding through 529 plans, other savings vehicles and financial aid optimization, barely addresses the education problems faced by most Americans. While continuing to provide sound financial planning advice through 401kid software, we have to expand the scope of our discussion to include other solutions, such as distance learning, studying abroad and other forms of formal higher as well as primary and secondary school education. Let’s start talking more seriously about these non-formal education categories, and how they are significant components of education.
For example, who should be responsible for the state of our youth’s health and rampant obesity and diabetes in the U.S.? It can’t be put squarely on schools and the formal education process, although of course, they must be part of the solution. Remember, it all starts at home, and kids follow what they see, more so than what they hear, from parents. Therefore, we must take the conversation beyond education of kids to education of all members of our society. All of life is an opportunity for us to raise our level of awareness and to better ourselves internally, morally and in practical ways that benefit our families and society at large. Individually, we must take our own education into our own hands, rather than waiting for the government to facilitate our development. Absolutely, we must be aware of political issues and try to elect the most suitable candidate for President – the one who will do their part to address social issues and various aspects of the education problems; honestly, I’m not sure which candidate will actually do a better job, if elected, although Obama seems a lot more sincere and ethical given what I have learned. Let’s see what happens during the debates, but not put all our stock in who wins this election because either way, you have to get up and go to work the next day, take responsibility for your own life and provide the best education – formal and non-formal – to your children.
If the state of education does not improve in the U.S. through drastic policy change, which is possible, we are in for greater financial challenges, that must be met admirably through our own creative solutions at the community and family level. More will be said on this topic over the coming months. For now, the main message that I want to convey is the following. We must take matters into our own hands, in terms of both non-formal and formal education. As a proactive parent, you can educate your child, manage what influences they have, and be involved in what they’re learning at school. If the teachers are no good, encourage them to learn more actively from their books, online research and current events. If college seems too expensive, consider local colleges, technical schools or study abroad programs. In this competitive global economy, the value of a traditional four-year higher education programs is coming under question; so if the expenses are out of budget, consider alternatives which may actually teach your children useful trade skills that manifest in technical job opportunities, either here or abroad. We have to start thinking out of the box a little bit more, and coming to terms with the fact that there are many aspects of education, and ways for young individuals to develop important life and career skills.
As always, I invite your comments and feedback.
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Service Learning–it’s a big trend gaining increased popularity on college campuses nation-wide. Do you know someone–a son or daughter, niece or nephew, grandchild or friend–currently in college who is participating in a Service Learning program? If so, you may be quietly wondering about the specifics of this experiential education approach and feeling eager to learn more.
real concerns about his plan, as a parent, that I wanted to discuss with an educational specialist and career coach like you.
A final word of reassurance? Your son’s employability will be enhanced when he graduates. Service Learning experience impresses employers; it demonstrates maturity, empathy, teamwork skills, and a commitment to serving those in need. Coursework is also considered important, but as far as businesses are concerned, there’s no substitute for real world experience. After learning more about all the positives inherent in Service Learning, I hope you feel proud of your son’s decision. It’s a great one that will serve him (and the community) well!