What Will You Do?

by
Erik Oosterwal


The Toastmasters manual calls this speech "Be In Earnest", and suggests picking a controversial topic about which you have strong convictions.

There are plenty of controversial topics from which to choose: Abortion, gun control, homosexuals in the armed forces, civil rights issues, government, religion, animal rights, or euthanasia.

These are all current topics that get people into heated discussions in a hurry, but there is an underlying topic that is the real reason these topics are controversial... ...the lack of continuing education.

The TV ads tell us that there are 47 million Americans who cannot comprehend what they read beyond a 4th grade level. 47 million!? At the beginning of 1985 there were 238 million people in the United States. 47 million is 20% of 1985's population. 2 out of every 10 Americans can't comprehend what they read beyond a 4th grade level.

You may be surprised to hear that, but I'm disgusted by it!

Of all the industrialized countries, the U.S. is second to last in math and science scores. We have a higher per capital income than most countries, but we are second to last in educating our people.

Last night on All Things Considered there was a report of one of our high schools that has a 89% drop out rate. School is not important to these students because school is not important to their parents. It's really no wonder that our students aren't learning when we don't put any emphasis on education.

47 million Americans can't comprehend what they read beyond a 4th grade level.

I remember when I was in 4th grade, I was just becoming aware of national and world issues. In 4th grade I was just becoming aware of sexual issues. In 4th grade I was just becoming aware of racial and discriminatory issues, and 47 million Americans can't comprehend what they read beyond a 4th grade level. If you can't comprehend what you read, how can you make fair decisions about abortion, or euthanasia, or gun control?

This issue goes beyond just 4th grade or high school. 47 million people means more than just kids between 10 and 18, it means adults who dropped out of high school, or adults who graduated high school without ever learning how to educate themselves. This issue also goes beyond reading at a 4th grade level. All of us need to continue our education. We are all educated individuals, but how much do we really know about math, science, geography, english...?

Think about these questions:

Astronomy:

When we watch the phases of the moon from one new moon to the next, does the lighted part start on the left side, on the right side, or does it change from one month to the other?

Math:

Without a calculator, can you find the square root of 238, what about the cube root? What is the quadratic formula?

Geography:

Do you know the capital of Vermont? What countries share borders with Brazil?

English:

With any given sentence, can you identify the subject and object? What about the predicate, or the gerund?

Politics:

What is the difference between Socialism and Communism? What is the difference between a parliamentary government and a congressional government?

Physics:

What is the acceleration of gravity?

Chemistry:

Which weighs the most, a proton, neutron, or electron? Which weighs the least?

Biology:

What is a Class, a Family, an Order, Species?

If you don't know the answer to any of these questions, you probably have a reason to get some more education. It is YOUR responsibility to educate yourself. There is also a greater responsibility we have, and that is to educate others.

There are many programs available to help others. You can serve a a guest lecturer at local schools or colleges, or even a permanent teacher or tutor.

Project Littary U.S. is always looking for volunteers to teach others to read.

Big brothers big sisters needs people too.

We can help!

Maybe you feel that you don't have time to spend with some of these programs, what can I do then?

Most of us have children, or grandchildren, or nieces and nephews that can use a little learing. Turn off the TV, get a book and read them a story. By showing them that you are interested in reading they become interested. We all have the opportunity to help.

Tonight, I will go home and read to my children. What will YOU do?


Copyright Erik Oosterwal 1993 - 2004
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