by Jeffery A. Faulkerson

Created on: January 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Brown versus The Board of Education of Tokepa, Kansas was a historic decision when it was signed back in 1954. But almost 52 years later, we Americans find ourselves dealing with a public education system that seems to be ill-equipped to prepare our children for the rigors of tomorrow. Granted, we want our children to learn their A-B-C's and 1-2-3's in diverse classrooms, but, in the words of ABC News Correspondent John Stocell, with the passage of time, we're becoming more stupid in America, and our public education system shares most of the blame.

But I don't think the problem rests solely with the public education system. I think much of the blame falls on parents who through their words contend that the success of their children is paramount but their actions say something entirely different. The latter group of parents is consumed with making large amounts of money just to keep up with the Jones'. They are oblivious to the wants and needs of their children, believing the hardest jobs as parents were completed when their children were completed when their children matriculated out of primary school, or grades K through 5. While children in grades 6 though 12 are better able to fend for themselves, I believe it behooves us parents to continue in the role of first teacher. To do nothing is to give the souls of our children over to a consumer market that cares very little about how smart our children are. It's all about the almighty dollar, what our children are willing to spend to own their products.

There are a number of companies that have created products that add excitement to the process of learning. The two companies that come to my mind are Leapfrog and V-Tech. While I applaud their efforts, noting that my three-year-old son own a number of their products, I think back to my primary and secondary school days. During the late 60s and early 70s, these companies weren't even on the corporate map. Sure, we had educational products, but I was more interested in playing football on my handheld computer or playing Pac-Man on my Atari Game System. Because my focus was on entertainment rather than education, my grades suffered. Ultimately, I, and many of my peers, placed less of a premium on education, more on having fun.

If we are to help future generations of American improve their education, we need to first remind them about why they need an education in the first place. I've heard a number of children say they don't need algebra or any number classes due

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