(Editor's Note: This is the second in a series on improving education. You can read part one here
The basis for a solid education begins at home. Being enriched in school emphasizing the individuals; duty of taking responsibility by setting short and long term goals to avoid possible dangerous and unproductive situations often leading to uncaring, mischievous behavior such as school failure, idleness, delinquency and crime. This demeaning, chancy behavior can be controlled by routinely completing worthwhile tasks in school, at home or work. People have different interests, lifestyles so try to be empathetic by sharing in others emotions, feelings, experiences to understand their life situations. Caregivers and teachers must avoid enabling students. Let them stand on their own two feet. They should be trained to use their brain in order to deal with problems in school and in life. Equality - the determining factor that provides equal opportunity for all citizens is a basic, solid education.
Faithfulness - forming a bond or devotion toward helpmates, family, friends and mentors. It is the expected way to act (custom) both in public and private. Early in life, offspring with parental guidance learn to overcome fear by finding out what caused the fears. Freedom is a given right for all citizens of the U.S. Everyone should cherish freedom because all Americans have the right to choose where they live, work, pray, go to school, give their opinion, how they dress and prepare and care for their children and family. Exhibiting goodness, being generous becomes the behavioral norm. Grudge - do not be stubborn or show ill will against someone. Find out why that person is dissatisfied or mad at you. Guns should only be privately used to hunt and bag small and large wild animals for food. These hunting guns and certified pistols should be used to protect one's well-being, target practice and these guns should not be used as a means of attack. Greed - it is just a matter of need, not want. The question to ask is when is enough of anything enough.
Hate - a feeling of dislike for other people, place and things and needs to be discussed early in school. The bottom line is that hate-mongers are not welcome in our culture. They should be considered ignorant trouble makers and ignored. A student's health is imperative for optimal learning at home, school and elsewhere. Proper diet consisting of a healthy food chain expected rest (sleep) and exercise deters obesity and keeps one's nutritional, endocrine, organize, and neurological systems in balance.
In life, especially in school it's important that children are creative and remain inquisitive. Being eager is necessary to enhance learning and seek advance knowledge and skills. Tuning into learning needs to become a habit. According to researchers at McGovern Institute it takes 66 days to form and maintain a new positive habit. Most school children have 12 to 13 years in school, therefore, the life vocabulary is doable.
Within the school program, beginning in Grade 1, these words would be presented appropriately by grade level using both conversation and written language. For example, the word attitude explaining how one adjust and accepts school curriculum, teachers' and students' roles, friendships, life's ups and downs, student differences, ideas, classroom procedure. Simply planning, setting a goal to finish school work on time and son on throughout the succeeding grades becomes a habit.
The customary ELA test given in grades 3, 8 and 10 would include life vocabulary words interspersed and defined with core subject words, used in sentences and database essays emphasizing the importance of knowing and using a universal life vocabulary.
(Next: Human sexuality's impact on education)