Take our governor for example. Let's be real and just say politicians. Illinois has a crippling debt problem that is hurting our middle class. While they play with numbers, real people get hurt. We are told the only way to fix the problem is to cut cut and cut. The other side just doesn't respond because they have a majority in the General Assembly. The reality is that we have to cut AND raise revenue. If your household was in this type of disarray this is what you would do. There are reasonable cuts that need to be made but there are taxes and fees that can be raised that have a minimal impact on people but a big payoff for the state. We have to do both.
Take the events of Ferguson and Baltimore. One side says we have to fix crooked cops and other say we need to address crime in those communities. Well guess what, we have to take on both. Instead of looking for a magic bullet we have to work for it if we want meaningful change. Everyone wants peace and justice but who is really willing to work hard to make it happen.
That's what it takes in our schools. The debate for what's best for kids rages on. Do we assess them to death or teach them to death? Is it more important to teach social skills and grit, or do we teach more rigorous content? I think you know where I stand in that. You have to do it all. There is research to support every way of doing it but yet schools still feel like that have to emphasize one over the others.
Folks, meaningful change to the most important aspects of our lives cannot be solved with a single solution. It's not like taking a pill and then you are cured. With the medication you doctor usually tells you what kind of lifestyle change to make get optimal results. What changes are we willing to make?
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