I think one thing we all can agree on is we have an education problem.
Beyond the shrinking return on investment of the degree, these last months put the nail in the coffin as we see campuses aflame with a miseducation, the very purpose of the institution.
Core to every college mission statement is a promise of a foundation of knowledge and a commitment to fierce academic inquiry. Harvard's mission is to “advance new ideas and promote enduring knowledge.”
While the ROI of higher education died years ago, colleges bragged and were praised for their commitment to the pursuit of truth and knowledge. They even claimed the rest of it (aka skill based education/ job matching) didn’t matter as long as students found truth and knowledge, the rest “followed.”
Well...turns out colleges are under delivering here too.
In the last few months we’ve seen an explosion of misinformation and a disregard to the very independent thinking that is required for intellectual debate. Evidenced by students chanting phrases that they can’t define and opining on a part of the world that they not only can’t find on a map, they never cared about until now, we see a collapse of intellectual integrity.
And even more disturbing is the confidence they spew misinformation, with complete disregard of any counter argument. Even bragging aloud that counter arguments are only made to “agitate” and thus, should not be heard or even entertained.
There is no denying that we have a real education crisis…so I have a question
Where are the educators at?
If we have an educational crisis, where are the educators?!
And I’m not talking about the “administrators” because we all know where they are. We’ve all seen the congressional trials. We have seen the lack of leadership where “context” is required. These “leaders' ' are all hiding behind their desks doing nothing or even more horrifying standing in front of it and trying to negotiate with ideologies that reject the very academic integrity we stand for, but they are a small fraction of the field.
Where are the teachers?!
For every administrator there are dozens of poorly paid, but well intentioned educators. As a hiring manager who has hired dozens of teachers, I can tell you with full confidence that people who go into this field are well-intended and truly want to better children’s lives. They ain't ever getting a second house or a fancy car, these people are not coin operated. They love to teach.
So where are these educators? Silence. So I’ve been doing some research and stumbled on this fact today.
Ninety-four percent of educators surveyed said they use TikTok to find ideas related to education. And nearly as many—90 percent—said they had used TikTok to inform their classroom practice.” And they spend at least 2 hours a day on the platform.
Turns out that the educators are in “class” for at least 2 hours a day like their students who are out preforming them with at least 4 hours a day.
Let that sink in for a second.
While I know there are many places that need your attention these days, please also give at least a glance to TikTok legislature. We must confront the sources of misinformation head-on. TikTok, a major influence on both students and educators, must be subject to stricter oversight to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of its content. Allowing a foreign entity to have a hand in our educational narrative is not only dangerous but undermines the very principles of independent thought and academic rigor. We must act decisively to safeguard the education of future generations, ensuring that our schools remain bastions of truth, knowledge, and critical thinking.
Below is a sample letter you can send to your representative: Subject: Urgent Need for Stricter Oversight on TikTok
Dear Senator [Name],
I am writing to express my strong support for the legislation aimed at regulating TikTok due to its potential national security threats and negative impact on our education system. As a concerned citizen, I believe that we must take decisive action to ensure that foreign entities do not influence our educational content and the privacy of American users.
I urge you to support and push forward the bill that would require TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a ban. Your leadership is crucial in protecting our national security and the integrity of our education system.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number]
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