Educational Reform and the 7 Ways It Can Benefit Our Country

As our nation continues to struggle economically and our politicians continue to fight amongst themselves, our children are punished by being forced to sit on the sidelines. Each year we are spending billions of dollars on war, oil, financial bailouts and other areas that are doing very little to secure our long-term future. All the while, our greatest investment, the children of this nation, are not being given the attention and support they need. We cannot continue to leave the future generations of this country with a staggering bill for the mistakes we have made in the past.

Through the correct educational reformations, we can once again provide our children with the encouragement that they need to change the world. Listed below are 7 ways that educational reforms can benefit our country.

7. Innovative & Creative Solutions to National Problems

Our children need to develop positive attitudes and faith in themselves early on in life. Encouragement needs to be the core of any such educational reform. A child equipped with a good attitude possesses the one tool necessary for success. With this tool, they can accomplish anything.

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." Neil Postman
Children do not need information slammed down their throats, they need to discover how powerful their minds are. In the right setting, with a ton of encouragement, they will find their potential. Through encouragement they can unleash their creativity and one day be able to provide solutions to the problems we cannot solve today. If we empower our children now, they will empower the world tomorrow.

6. Economic Stability

Our current economic crisis did not happen overnight, nor will it be fixed through some quick policy change. It's going to take some time and persistence and we are going to have to start being more responsible with our money. Therefore, the quickest way to an economic recovery is through our children.

If at an early age, children are taught the basic principles of managing their finances, they will grow up with the ability to handle their money efficiently. Today, we are seeing what happens when a nation mismanages their money. We must learn from this lesson and teach it to our children so that they don't suffer the same fate.

"Financial education needs to become a part of our national curriculum and scoring systems so that it's not just the rich kids that learn about money.. it's all of us." David Bach
David Bach is right. The only difference between the rich and the poor are the principles in which each live by. Children of the wealthy often grow up to be wealthy, because they are exposed to the daily choices that a wealthy person makes. The opposite is true for children of those that struggle financially. Those children learn that money is an object that causes great struggle and turmoil and grow up with those thoughts engrained in their heads.

There have been many instances when poor men and women have gained for themselves extraordinary amounts of wealth by learning these key principles. We can teach our children these principles. The end result will be a stabilized economy and a more enthusiastic and harmonious nation.

5. Furthered Racial, Gender & Religious Equality

If our country is going to continue to succeed the future generations need to be shown how to be tolerant of each and every individual. With the wide variety of cultures that live in America, our education system has been presented with a unique opportunity to bridge the gap that has plagued mankind for so long.

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King's dreams have been realized and great progress has been made. Still, equality, while recognized, is not yet absolute. Tolerance needs to become an everyday part of a child's curriculum, not a once in awhile subject. It needs to be taught at a young age and continued until the child reaches adulthood. Although we cannot force our children to be tolerant, we can encourage them and show them why it is an important component to living a happy and satisfying life.

4. Improved Family Values

We cannot teach children, through education, how a family should function, because no curriculum should force a child to do anything. We can, however, place our children in a positive and encouraging environment that directs them towards becoming more confident in themselves and those around them. These factors will, in turn, create a resurgence in the importance of family values in our country.

"Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it." Marian Wright Edelman
Building strong family values in our children at a young age will go along way to secure the future of our nation.

3. Strengthened Communities

The importance of communities has always been the strength of our nation, but lately the idea of community involvement has weakened and our economy has been affected by the lack of our unity as a nation. Imagine the effect that would result from getting children involved in the community at an early age.

"Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource." John F. Kennedy
By getting our children involved in the community they will be taught the importance of unity and team work. They will grow up and create communities that thrive economically. Once again, our children will be able to play outside without fear of danger, because we will trust in our neighbors as we trust in our own family.

2. Improved Foreign Relations

As we teach our children to be more tolerant of each other, they will grow and become leaders that are more tolerant of foreign nations. With the positive attitude and the ability to work together that each child will gain, the leaders of tomorrow will be better equipped to improve upon diplomatic relationships between foreign countries.

"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army." Edward Everett
Our children are our only hope to end the problems that we fail to solve today. We must give them the necessary tools so that they may improve the world in ways we could never imagine.

1. Renewed Grace from God

Every single day God blesses the world with new life. It is up to us to provide that new life with the best opportunities possible.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Brent Hale is the author of the " Those Wise Guys blog. He is dedicated to discovering success and living a more satisfying life. In doing so, he hopes to help and inspire others who may be looking for the same rewards in life. To do so, "Those Wise Guys" features classic and ageless wisdom from some of the most influential and successful people from the past and present.