As I mentioned in an earlier column I was invited to a showing of the film “Race to Nowhere.” The producer of this film, Vicki Abeles, decided to make this film based upon the experiences she was having raising her 3 children. Terms such as “Soccer Mom,” “Minivan,” and “Entertainment Center” had entered her family’s life, and she wasn’t very positive about the effects that they were having on their family.

I have dissected her 9 suggestions for improving the lives of her family below.

1. Attend PTA and School Board meetings. In Federal Way the grade for this has to be an “F.” I can assure you that there has been little attendance at School Board meetings in the last 10 years. I am unaware of any PTA in the district that has any concerns about the academic accomplishment levels that they are willing to express publically. This state is rated as 35th in the nation in high school completion and high schools in our district are mostly in the 3rd quartile in the state. There are none in the 1st quartile in a state that ranks 35th! Change in schools should occur when the public makes it clear that this is the “League” that counts. Not the basketball or football league.

If I were a college admissions counselor, again, I would be taking a very serious look at any applicant from these schools that could not provide me with a long series of independent verifications of their capabilities. Clearly “doing well” here may not be a significant asset. I have seen examples of this.

2. Challenge accepted homework practices and policies. Why are kids spending too much time on this? When I ask some of the kids that complain about this about their knowledge of the subject on which they are expending time, I usually don’t come away from this conversation with a feeling that they have mastered the subject, and what they are doing is “busywork.” I asked some of the students at the film presentation, all who were doing what they considered “AP” or advanced work specific questions.

I was not impressed with their answers. I wouldn’t have to go out of Federal Way to support my contentions that the knowledge base of many of our students is simply inadequate when compared to even other parts of this country. When I asked a former school board member in Federal Way whose kids were academic leaders about their college experience they replied “There are schools back East that prepare kids for these colleges!” Evidently these kids, back East, are geared for this rigor.

3. Make sure that kids and teens get the recommended amount of sleep. Bingo! On this topic I am in full agreement. How does this happen? If this isn’t the case you reduce the activities that are causing this, other than academic effort. Face-book, I-Pads, “Extra Curricular Activities, and other diversions are almost always the cause of this.

4. Avoid over scheduling. Exactly! The child’s task is to master the academics that are presented in a school setting. If this cannot be accomplished because of other “activities,” reduce the distractions. Harsh, I am sure. The main objective is not to be the lead pitcher on the baseball team. It is the main objective to demonstrate actual capabilities to learn knowledge. It is the responsibility of parents to monitor, and regulate, the time allocations. This is a major difference between kids who are successful in school and those who aren’t. Notice it is the parents’ responsibility, not the schools.

5. Advocate for a later starting time in high school. Sure! What is the biggest cause of the early starting time? “Extra-Curricular” activities! For some references to this I would suggest that readers try the book, “Schools that do too much!” The idiocy of this is pretty well exposed by this wonderful research based book. Our secondary school schedules are determined by athletic needs. Isn’t this nuts?

6. Reduce performance pressure. We have already done this to the point where less than 50% of kids in this state can pass a basic math test, and we don’t have the fortitude to suggest that they haven’t been paying attention and doing the required tasks! We have Legislators that are far more concerned about the passage rate than the knowledge rate! Performance here is more important than performance on the court, isn’t it? We practice extensively for performance on the court. Do we do the same for academics? I don’t think so.

7. Limit or eliminate AP/IB/Cambridge classes. Sure! Let’s move to Disney produced instruction. A few years ago a national survey of students and parents determined that “Satisfaction” was the most important factor for schools. Disney could do this! It would be interesting to ask these questions in those countries that have surpassed us. I doubt that “Personal Satisfaction” would score nearly so strongly. If we continue down this road do we want to reduce the requirements for surgeons and pilots? Many would like to enter these professions but really need reduced expectations.

8. Stop grading homework and find ways to assess students aside from tests and homework. If this is to work why not the same standards for airline pilots and surgeons? I am sure that more pilots and surgeons would be “Satisfied.”

9. Eat dinner regularly as a family. Why isn’t this the case anymore? Could it be the “Over scheduling” of distractions instead of school work? I can’t imagine that dinner is being served while school is in session.

If you were to change Vicki Abeles suggestions to accommodate my suggestions there probably would be a great improvement in our youth and their future. One has to be aware of the fact that the next generation will be less educated than the past.

Soccer moms, entertainment centers, X-boxes, play-stations, minivans taking kids to “practice” are all North American phenomenons that are connected to North America’s declining educational levels.

Perhaps if the minivan’s entertainment center was converted to an “instructional center” and the minivan was going to French language practice we might be able to recover some of our losses.