Today I attended a picnic held by Greenville Technical College Charter High School in celebration of their tenth anniversary. The picnic was designed for the whole family, not just staff of the high school.
I believe that is the reason behind the school's success - inclusion of the family in the education of the child. Since I have a junior in that school, I can attest to the fact that parental involvement is not just invited but required.
We often hear that that is what is missing in today's secondary system - family involvement. But family support is critical even in higher education, yet it takes a different form. We expect, and should develop, a sense of responsibility and accountability on the part of college students, but that doesn't mean that family support isn't crucial to the students' success.
At commencement ceremonies, I ask students to applaud their families (spouses, parents, children, etc.) for supporting their efforts to strengthen themselves and their families. In thinking about this more, maybe we have viewed the education of a child all wrong. We often say education is important for the individual, and it is, but maybe the focus should be on strengthening of the family, or future family, through individual development. That does tend to put the focus back on the family and the importance of education for each member of the family.
I am a member of a group in Greenville County with a mission to make education a priority for all in the county - to raise the level of awareness and importance. Should this group take on the challenge of refocusing education from an individualistic benefit to a family benefit? Doesn't it make sense that if you strengthen one you will strengthen the other?
What should be the role of Greenville Tech in this challenge?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Expanding Our Horizons
Last week, I had the opportunity to chair the annual meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges. The theme of the convention was Diversity: Our Vision, Our Value. There were a number of sessions focusing on understanding different cultures and what value that brings to the individual, organization, and community. This week, I am committed to speaking to a local group on a topic titled Beyond the Dream: A New Dialogue in Cross Culture Interactions. This presentation is for Beyond Differences, which is a group established to bring people, ideas, and principles together and to look beyond differences and find commonalities in creating an inclusive community.
For a number of years in this country there has been a focus on the value of diversity. Now, we seem to be taking another step, and that is to recognize the differences and commonalities that exist within and between various ethnic groups and cultures. Most importantly, the AACC convention and my speech will focus on understanding the "added-value" of differences and commonalities. Too often in society we might recognize differences but do not fully appreciate the fact that these differences are not just to be tolerated but add value.
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to provide opening remarks to a group of GTC international students and their local hosts on the value of international relations, education, and exchanges. I commented that international students are always very thankful for the opportunity to study at GTC. Why is that? It is because they see different aspects of our culture, learn from it, and take that back to their home countries. It does not mean they agree with everything in our culture, but that they recognize the differences and understand that their personal lives have been enhanced because of the exposure to these differences. I believe these students also understand that diversity in a global sense can be defined as the uniqueness of not only different groups but differences within a specific group such as varying ideas and perspectives.
Look at it this way - any successful organization today embraces an environment which respects and builds upon a diversity of ideas and approaches to the mission of that organization. The pursuit of this goal is appropriately continuous, and that is how we improve. It is these same organizations that are also readily characterized as innovative.
As the AACC convention's closing speaker, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, stated, the answer to "understanding is to keep pushing." I welcome your ideas on pushing forward with this issue.
For a number of years in this country there has been a focus on the value of diversity. Now, we seem to be taking another step, and that is to recognize the differences and commonalities that exist within and between various ethnic groups and cultures. Most importantly, the AACC convention and my speech will focus on understanding the "added-value" of differences and commonalities. Too often in society we might recognize differences but do not fully appreciate the fact that these differences are not just to be tolerated but add value.
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to provide opening remarks to a group of GTC international students and their local hosts on the value of international relations, education, and exchanges. I commented that international students are always very thankful for the opportunity to study at GTC. Why is that? It is because they see different aspects of our culture, learn from it, and take that back to their home countries. It does not mean they agree with everything in our culture, but that they recognize the differences and understand that their personal lives have been enhanced because of the exposure to these differences. I believe these students also understand that diversity in a global sense can be defined as the uniqueness of not only different groups but differences within a specific group such as varying ideas and perspectives.
Look at it this way - any successful organization today embraces an environment which respects and builds upon a diversity of ideas and approaches to the mission of that organization. The pursuit of this goal is appropriately continuous, and that is how we improve. It is these same organizations that are also readily characterized as innovative.
As the AACC convention's closing speaker, CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, stated, the answer to "understanding is to keep pushing." I welcome your ideas on pushing forward with this issue.
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