Positive Change - Educational Reform

[Jzmackenzie]

Positive change is on the horizon. This month I travel to an innovative school in Dallas that teaches ESL and to public schools. I an very eager to make contacts to speak in Dallas and to work together for positive change.

I came to Mexico because I saw a broken education system in my own US classroom. I'm not along in that opinion. According to the New York Times on February 14, 2011, Rep. John Kline, R-Minnesota, the chairman of the House Education and the Work- force Committee, stated:
?Over the last 45 years we have increased our investment in education, but the return on that investment has failed to improve student achievement, throwing more money at our nation?s broken education system ignores reality and does a disservice to students and taxpayers.?

Armed with that information, I continued my research at all levels of the Mexican social ladder. The more I learned, the more I simply knew that there was a way to make a difference and change the outcome for ESL students in the U.S. From the day my family left for Mexico, we have held in our hearts this phrase, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has," Margaret Mead.

Then last July I was received with a welcome at the Chamber of Commerce US/Mexico Mayor's Conference like a "lost daughter." So I questioned my own daughter about Texas. She is V.P. of Academic Affairs for the Education Management Corporation (manages over 100 private colleges); several of them are in Texas. She told me about the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). I read the TWC mission and goals. Right away I knew that Texas was thinking like myself.

Texas appears to see that Spanish speakers are an untapped asset to the U.S. Texas is moving forward to make a difference. Texas is doing what in 1998 President Clinton was saying: "The United States has always been energized by its immigrant populations. America has constantly drawn strength and spirit from wave after wave of immigrants [...] They have proved to be the most restless, the most adventurous, the most innovative, (and) the most industrious of people."

I developed a theory. As a former U.S. public and private school special education teacher, I theorized that the reason 49% of Spanish speaking students attending school in the US do not graduate from high school is because they had disadvantages in not understanding the English language nor the culture. They were not being taught using evidenced-based programs such as those used for special needs students who are unable to comprehend the spoke word or normal social behaviors. When I came to Mexico, with advanced degrees and I was not able to understand the language or the different levels of the culture, I was equally disadvantaged.

I leave the 19th for Seattle to make the official opening presentation of my book over Easter weekend with those of my ecumenical faith. I will fly to Dallas on the 26th. We U.S. citizens have work to do and I welcome getting right to it!

I honestly feel like the time has come to change the course of US/MX history into creating well-educated leaders of Spanish speakers already in the US. At the same time, using the money from the sale of "how-to" books to keep those who have not yet emigrated in Mexico studying in rural libraries and learning how to make a better life right at home.

Are YOU on my team?