U.S. Education - continued

Maybe I was too harsh in my last post. There are many outstanding schools in this country, from pre-school to graduate school. There is a large and growing number of excellent universities, both public and private. Educational methods have improved and are now focused more on outcomes than theory. The problem is that there is a failure to transform and improve schools in the lower half - possibly the lower 60% - of the public school system, and most inner city schools continue to languish and fail. The environment in many of these schools is a reflection of our failure to extend an arm of mercy and hope to the both the working poor and the indigent poor. There are certain areas of all large metropolitan areas where we just don't want to go. It is dangerous to enter these areas, often. But rather than find solutions for the people who must live in such areas but are nevertheless willing to work to better their lives and rather than giving hope to their children, our society has thus far been unwilling to focus sufficient time, money and other resources needed to provide a ladder up out of such an environment. Generation after generation remains trapped in an environment of crime, failed hopes, and poverty. American society needs to begin following Europe's example and shift funds away from modern weapons systems and into building schools and offering teachers an attractive and financially rewarding life. We must transfer wealth to educating the poor, which is the best societal return on investment we can make. Not everyone should be trained for the professions and for academia. But we should begin to offer better technical education and enhanced, modern trade skills. Children who are growing up in violent social and failed family environments would benefit from safe, protected secular or religious environments filled with love, thoughtfulness and kindness. Increasingly, we need to reach out to people with little hope and give them our love, share our kindness and mercy. Let's take the best educational methods and make them available, with all of the necessary resources to make them work well, in our inner cities, as well as wealthy suburbs and private schools. Let's begin training in the trades and in technical skills to those who seem uninterested in formal academic education. Let's make sure that every child is prepared for college or for some form of employment that enables him or her to support a family.