I’ve written a blog about setting the performance bar high in the past but feel that the start of the school year is a great time to readdress the issue. After all, the students of today will be the leaders and workers of tomorrow. Yours and my retirements will be greatly impacted by the performance of these kids when they enter the work world. I’m looking beyond Social Security since that is no longer a given and considering more the role they will play in shaping our government policies.
This year is a major political year as we are able to shape the county’s future by either retaining current elected officials or making changes that could alter its course. Hopefully voters will approach this opportunity by becoming informed through research rather than the garbage that emanates through the news outlets and political ads. Unfortunately, as I’ve too often observed, there is either a lack of desire to pursue knowledge or the education to fully understand the key points in an election. These are needed if the voting public is going to make an informed choice. Instead, elections have become popularity contest where candidates focus on their personal attributes rather than the tough issues.
I believe it is important that students today get a solid education in the process of government and the history that has shaped our nation. Additionally, they should have a sound understanding of the written word and decision making. If schools set the performance bar high, requiring students to have more than a cursory knowledge, our country will be well on the way to having more participation in the electoral process by an informed voting public. Perhaps these individuals will also set the performance bar high for our elected officials and ignore the rhetoric and demand substance.
