Education as the Civil Right of the 21st Century

            Newt’s education tour with Al Sharpton and Arnie Duncan is bringing much needed attention to the issue of education. His recent trip to Philadelphia has shown some light on the incredible: what was once a violent and failing school just three years ago has been transformed in to a thriving, highly successful and safe learning environment where Philadelphia students are getting an education that they would never have imagined just a short while ago.

            The reason for this change? “Same children, same building,” says Newt, but also a, “new model, new approach.”

            What used to be the ShoemakerPublic School has since become the MasteryCharterSchool, and it has made a world of difference. The school moved from being in the 25^th percentile of Philadelphia schools (that is, 75% of schools were better achieving than it) to the 85^th percentile (where only 15% of Philadelphia schools were better achieving).

            The most surprising part? This was all accomplished in a mere 2 years.

            Newt hopes that the MasteryCharterSchool can become a national model. He stresses that improving and overhauling our education system is of vital importance for two reasons: 1. national security and 2. civil rights.

            The first reason seems easy enough to understand. The United States has enjoyed its privileged place amongst nations for the last fifty years in part due to its superior educational system. Not only do we have the best colleges in the world, but we used to have the best public schools as well. That has since changed with increased bureaucracy, more powerful unions and decreasing standards which has lead to an overall decline in the quality of an American education. When the falling quality of our own educations and is combined with the increasing quality of Chinese and Indian educations, it becomes easy to see how these two other nations could soon capture the global lead on science, health, technology and other fields, leaving us behind militarily and nationally.

            But the second reason is less obvious, even though it presents a moral question that the national security one does not. “If children don’t get an adequate education,” says Newt, “they have been cheated of their right to pursue happiness…and so education is the number one civil right of the twenty-first century.”

            Everyone is aware of the close correlation between education and financial success, and it is no surprise that the worst schools are located in predominantly inner-city areas where many African-Americans and other minorities primarily reside. It follows then that we as a nation have permitted minority dominated areas to wallow in the effects of bad education. And as when any civil right is abused for a particular group of people, we as a nation suffer its disastrous effects.

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Comments

By Anonymous @ Friday, November 20, 2009 3:07 PM

Newt,
You have no clue as to what goes on in urban schools, yet this doesn't stop you from making inane proclamations about reform.
Try my job for a month. It might enlighten you.

By Anonymous @ Wednesday, October 21, 2009 7:36 AM

Why are you supporting a far leftist leaning socalled conservative like Dede Scozzafava??? This socalled Repub is nothing but a fake repub in sheeps clothing...she sides way too much with the democratic party . Tell us Why you support her.......if you cannot tell us with certainity that she is not going to derail us and you cannot get the backbone to stand up against her and her like then you have lost my vote and my support in any way shape and form!!! You have greatly dissappointed me!

By Anonymous @ Friday, October 02, 2009 5:17 PM

The server isn't posting the name or URL: A. Brooks;
URL is http://www.conservatismplus.org

By Anonymous @ Friday, October 02, 2009 5:13 PM

cont:

forgot the name in the previous comment.
Not to say it is hopeless, just very unnerving :)

By Anonymous @ Friday, October 02, 2009 5:09 PM

Fine. As long as you understand that we move the 'problem' from one location to another. This may seem too philosophical and negative-- but we can discuss these matters here.
Today (unlike in the '50s & '60s) when you help one person economically, you hurt another, and education is based on economics.
End scarcity eventually, then you 'solve' the problem; however another problem takes its place; every problem we solve causes other problems.

Empowering minorities means helping good people and bad. For every Thomas Sowell, there exists an OJ.

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